Post-colonial realities in Nigeria and the ascendancy and sustenance of political merchants in the corridors of power have sustained the reproduction of similar faults and errors. In the area of election shifting, it has progressed from weeks to month and the latest one came like a thief in the night.
What about the future leaders — corps members who historically have been treated badly? Their own treatment merits ‘Now Your Suffering Continues’ (NYSC). How do you then expect a cohort of young people treated like slaves to first think about Nigeria and not themselves when they can see what Nigeria continues to offer them in terms of low quality education, zoo-like hostels in schools and NYSC camps and even on election duty? What about those who have had to postpone their weddings because of February 16 and March 2 and have had to shift to February 23 and March 9? Consider migration costs and losses; think about the implications of a shut-down Saturday economy in Nigeria. As usual, no one is guilty, no one is punished. The worthless treatment of Nigeria and Nigerians is to continue.
As the ‘maradonic’ INEC chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, battles to fix his ‘logistic’ problems within a week, the “converted democrat” and President of our Federal Republic, Muhammadu Buhari, at the All Progressives Congress caucus meeting reportedly ordered security agencies to be ruthless with ballot box snatchers. He would also extend the ruthlessness to ‘local champions’ who think they can lead thugs to disrupt elections.
Mr President needs to know that such a pronouncement further emboldens the already dreaded security agencies in Nigeria. Our security men are daily accused of human rights abuses. Trigger-happy police, army, customs, immigration officers kill for a pittance let alone with an executive backing order. Furthermore, the directive paves the way for the extortion and exploitation of voters at the slightest opportunity by the security men during the coming polls. Snatching ballot boxes is a criminal offence and there is administration of criminal justice that must be followed. We have languished too much in the wilderness of slavery that those in power see their pronouncements only from their point of view without deep introspect of the spiral and multiple interpretations to which it can be reconstructed.
To sum up, I strongly feel that the postponement of the polls has affected both the ruling and main opposition parties in their calculations of being victorious. They are now more desperate than before and will continue to utter accusations and counter-accusations. These are signs that both are not certain of victory. All actors must therefore watch their tongues. While INEC must ensure that the processes leading to the outcome remain clean, free and fair, the security agents must not do the bidding of candidates. They must protect Nigerians who come out to legitimately cast their votes.
written by Dr. Oludayo Tade
a sociologist based in Ibadan
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