By Musa Bello
Empirical investigations show that the greatest obstacle to democratic consolidation in Nigeria is electoral violence. This is as a result of the rascal politics that the political elites engage in. Sometimes, the violence is intra-party, and most of the time, it is inter-party.
Apart from that the fact that this phenomenon affects the credibility of the electoral system, the democratic system and the rule of law, the nature, extent and magnitude of violence and rigging associated with elections in Nigeria had assumed alarming proportions that necessitates the adoption of an effective security based framework that will minimize electoral violence. Effective security deployment has been discovered to be a major strategy and weapon to curbing this democratic impediment.
Elections are supposed to be competitive, free and fair both substantively and procedurally; and in which the ability of the elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law, and usually moderated by a constitution that emphasizes the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals, and which places constraints on the leaders and on the extent to which the will of the majority can be exercised against the rights of minorities.
Despite the legal framework that guides the electoral process, there is usually a contest between those who want to acquire power and those who are likely to lose power. The contest normally put the toga of violence because some politicians usually want to cut corners. A cursory look at democratic history of Nigeria reveals that of electoral cum political violence that sometimes threaten the country to its very foundation. This development in part had made democratic consolidation somehow problematic, and on the other hand has made it difficult for Nigeria to be referred to as a democratic state even though operators vehemently lay claim to it.
The point has to made that historically, violence is a major feature of political life everywhere around the world. Only that politics-related violence varies in intensity, trends and dimensions from one political system to another.
Since electoral violence with concomitant effect had been the bane of Nigeria’s democratic transition, there has been the need to set in motion a machinery to curb the menace. A major way out of this malaise is political education and sustenance of a security framework for proactive measures.
Sociologically, politics marred by violence is synonymous with the politics of bitterness that would create an atmosphere of fear, intimidation, and arson; and would not allow the people to choose their leaders.
Such politics undermines competitive electoral politics and alienate the citizens politically and make them politically apathetic, and create a fundamental disjuncture between the civil society and the state. This deeply-rooted problem contributes to growing cases of mass disenfranchisement of the citizens with its attendant political normlessness and exclusion which does not help to deepen and consolidate our democracy.
Even though this plethora of violence forms part of a broader pattern of violence and abuse that is inherent in Nigeria’s largely unaccountable political system; often times, perpetrators are never punished leading to a great distortion of our democratic practice.
The atmosphere of feeling secured should be created and the citizens should be made to feel more secured at the polling unit and this could be achieved via the provision of adequate security.
Mr president’s statement at the Osun state gubernatorial rally was very encouraging and it sends a good signal of the administration’s readiness to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
The Ekiti election which was conducted few months ago could have been bloody if not with the swift intervention of the federal government in deployment of adequate security apparatus during the election. The election came out to be one the freest state government election conducted despite the incumbency factor and other political advantages enjoyed by the incumbent governor. It turn out that the defeated governor was the first to announce the acceptance of the result and in categorical statement, he attest to the fact that he abides by the wishes of Ekiti citizens. This could not have been possible if not with the provision of adequate security that enable the citizens of Ekiti state to exercise their civic responsibility.
Similarly, the Edo state election that produced Comrade Adams Oshiomhole some few years back as the governor of the state could not have been possible if not with the provision of adequate security that ensured that the votes of the Edo people were protected despite the fact that he came from an opposition platform. The elected governor thanked the federal governments’ commitment to ensuring adequate security.
However, the Kano state local government elections that produced all the 44 local council chairmen who emerged under the opposition platform could not have been possible without adequate security. The fact of the matter is that whether an election favors candidates of political party that contested the election or not does not matter. What is paramount is the protection of lives and properties of the innocent citizenry.
The Nigerian political system is characterized by penchant for opposing government actions whether it is positive or negative. This could be seen from the utterances and activities of the opposition party leaders that tend to criticize government actions however good it is. It is high time we faced the reality and lean our support to the government especially on areas that it has done good for the economy. The utterances of the political oppositions party leaders tend to exacerbate political tensions in the economy which sends a wrong signal to the citizenry and tilt their perception towards violence. We need to understand that the country is ours and for its future to be guaranteed, we need to do away with sentiments and other factors that tend to divide us and send us further away from the path of development.
The Osun state gubernatorial election is coming some few days ahead. As a matter of urgency and of national importance, the relevance of deploying adequate security should be appreciated by the public and we should be weary of the fact that protection of life, properties and the dignity of the citizens of a country is one of the core objectives that a responsible government should focus on. The exercise of civic responsibility of the citizenry should, and must be protected by a legitimate democratic government and in view of the above; it will be well appreciated if the federal government would;
1. Intensify adequate security and deploy more security personnel that will curb the activities of the would-to-be riggers and conflict entrepreneurs who benefits from election malpractice. Surely, the votes of the citizens must be protected and the government will be held accountable in the event it fails in this responsibility. Security must be reinforced during movement to collation centers. Those who are crying foul of governments’ effort at providing security are those who intend to take advantage of the loopholes in the political process and ferment electoral malpractices with impunity. Why would one be afraid of seeing security personnel’s presence if that person has nothing to hide?
2. Support the Independent National Electoral Commission in its effort to perform its responsibility. The support elements in terms of logistics and adequate protection of its personnel should be guaranteed. This will give the institution the much needed energy to perform its duties effectively. The outcome will surely instill confidence of the general public on the credibility of the electoral body. This will in turn impact positively on people’s confidence on the performance of the government.
The nature, extent and magnitude of violence and rigging associated with elections in this country are posing a serious threat to the national quest for stable democratic transition, as well as the attainment of the long term goal of consolidated democracy.
And as a problem that has ravaged and permeated the entire bloodstream of our political system, it has become imperative for Nigerians to know the danger that it poses to strengthening and deepening the nation’s democracy with concomitant effect on national development. The government on the other hand should be up to its responsibility and ensure that adequate security is provided for the teeming citizenry. This will instill confidence and upgrade its status to the international communities.
After this sustained process and strategy of political education, apprehended perpetrators of electoral violence and politics of bitterness should be punished according to the existing law. It is only through this strategy that the battle can be won.
Bello is of Citizens Cultural Renaissance Initiative (CICURI)
