The April elections are being swamped in violence. The only thing worse than this is that this was predicted by observers of Nigeria’s elections, and many citizens are behaving as if it is part and parcel of the electoral process. Almost by the day, violent acts with patently political motives are increasing, and the nearer we move to the actual election dates, the more these acts are likely to be witnessed. At this rate, Nigerians may go to the polls as extremely frightened or cowed voters, and in many parts of the country, they may not go to the polls at all.
The election-related violence we are witnessing these days has some unique characteristics. The bomb or grenade that was thrown at the political rally being attended by the Governor of Niger State last week broke all traditional barriers. A bomb casually thrown into a political gathering in Niger State will be registered in the minds of the people as an act of the highest degree of callousness, and many people will be afraid to attend future rallies. When gunmen opened fire at the ACN Gubernatorial Candidate and his deputy in Benue state, the intention would appear to be to kill these high profile politicians, and leave the community dangerously at the mercy of speculations regarding motives and perpetrators.
Many State Governors have had their convoys stoned in States where they are Chief Security Officers. If Governors can be stoned and bombed away from campaign activities, it will require other candidates with only the most supreme courage or foolhardiness to venture into some territories to campaign. Violence here deliberately limits the political space, and creates conditions under which other politicians will be threatened when they go to what is regarded as hostile territory.
Yet more manifestations of increasing violence are found in major clashes between rival supporters, which daily claim many lives. We see violence in the manner prominent politicians are involved in these fracas, or are hauled into detention on suspicious of being behind the violence. We see violence in the use of state power to refuse the opposition permits to hold rallies; or when opposition parties defy police orders and hold their rallies anyway. We see violence when billboards and posters of rivals are defaced, destroyed or banned altogether by those in authority, or by thugs who have political scores to settle. We see violence when the political symbols of a particular party or candidate are targeted and destroyed.
The whole society is exposed to violence when text messages are sent in millions communicating hatred and inciting dangerous divisions. Serious damage is done when religious leaders are rumored or accused of supporting candidates on sectarian grounds; when lies are deliberately spread even on the internet on the sexual orientation of political rivals; and when respected people are accused of being on the payroll of some politicians.
There are many more dimensions to the creeping violence which is threatening to engulf the April 2011 elections. The result of all this violence is to intimidate and frighten the electorate and stop people from openly supporting their candidates. Candidates are also threatened with death or injury, and their campaigns suffer to the extent of their fears. Political campaigns and rallies assume the appearance of war; and casualties mount as they must since the use of weapons, far more sophisticated than the traditional fists and sticks which we were accustomed to, has now become a central feature of campaigns. In the end, no one wins this battle, but the biggest loser is the electorate which has the right to expect a peaceful and secure environment under which the April elections should hold.
The frightening levels of election-related violence is a reminder of the dangerous linkages between political power and personal wealth and privilege. There must be a very strong attraction in public office to motivate politicians into adopting the most dangerous and violent tactics against opponents. Sadly, in spite of much evidence that political violence merely robs the poor of their power and often their limbs, lives or freedom, many poor people, particularly the young, are willing to earn a few Naira by putting their lives and limbs at the mercy of cynical politicians to acquire public offices by all means, and at all cost.
It is still not too late to advise President Goodluck Jonathan to convene a Summit on Political Violence to find immediate solutions to this widening circle of violence around the elections. Perhaps it may help in this direction if the President is reminded that the violence we see today, if not checked, will be child’s play compared to the post-election violence we will witness.
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