Post Election Riots: Need For Caution

Last Monday was yet another red-letter-day in the political history of Nigeria. As it were, Nigerians, and indeed, the international community, were stunned to hear the bloody riots over the results of last Saturday’s presidential elections.

Sadly, reports say, rioting erupted in some states in the northern part of the country namely; Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano and  Adamawa states, even before President Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner of the presidential election.

Regrettably, Muslim youths across the five states in question, alleging that Gen Muhammadu Buhari was rigged out in favour of President Jonathan, destroyed lives and property of those perceived to be Buhari’s political opponents.

Prominent among the people whose property were razed  by the rampaging youths, is Vice President Namadi Sambo, whose house in Kaduna was set ablaze. Besides, the Nigerian Red Cross said churches, mosques and homes were burnt by the irate youths across the North. “A lot of people have been killed,” a Nigerian Red Cross official, Umar Mairinga said, but did not give details of the number of death. In Zaria, in particular, the youths reportedly forced their way  into the central prison, and released the inmates.

Apparently worried over the bloody riots, the Federal Government has imposed curfew on the affected states, as well as beefed  up security in the states in question, in order to call the bluff of the politically indoctrinated Muslim youths. Already, the situation has been put under  control by security operatives.

Reacting to the situation, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, vowed to defend and protect the nation’s democratic process, and warned perpetrators of the post-presidential election violence to desist immediately from fanning the embers of politically-motivated crisis in the country.

In his reaction, President Jonathan expressed regrets over what he called “the destruction of lives and property” by the youths in the North, and advised Nigerians, especially his political opponents to see his victory as “no victor, no vanquished.” As he puts it, “I am the President of all Nigerians; come and join me for national transformation.”

Also, baring his mind on the unfortunate situation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo remarked that Nigerian politicians should see election as a game which “some people are bound to win, while others are bound to lose”,  and called on those who lost to advise their supporters not to take the law into their hands, so that the country can move to the next level in its democratic process.

Apparently disturbed by the bloody action  of the youths, Tony Momoh, Natioanl Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the political party under which Gen. Buhari contested the presidential elections, advised supporters of the party not to take the law into their hands.

The Tide is at a loss to understand the rationale behind the bloody riots by the Muslim youths across some states in the North, given the free, fair and credible atmosphere under which the presidential election was conducted last Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

What is more, Nigerians and the international observers are aware that, so far, the April polls have been considered relatively free and fair, which justified the efforts the government, INEC and the political parties have made to ensure that the country has a successful election. That is not to say that there have not been questionable incidents. Yes, there are reports of rigging and other electoral malpractices; but generally, we acknowledge that the elections have been peaceful, free, fair, and indeed, the most credible.

However, we commend the ability of those who accepted defeat graciously, all in the spirit of democracy. We want to mention particularly the good spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by personalities such as Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Dimeji Bankole, who, even when they lost elections to their exalted positions, were gracious enough to accept defeat, noting that it was the people’s verdict. It is in line with this that Jonathan promised that he will do everything possible to ensure that democratic principles are adopted, and that the election crisis in other African countries like Ivory Coast can never be witnessed in Nigeria.

We hail the President’s courage and support from other candidates who see the need to have successful elections. Obviously, Nigeria is toeing the path of democracy; but we are asking those who do not see anything good in having a peaceful election to have a rethink, and those who engage in violence to stop, as such provocation could lead to uncontrollable problems.

It is not impossible to anticipate crisis in situations like this. This is why we task trouble makers not to inflame the polity, especially with the last batch of elections coming up next Tuesday. In fact, we insist that any form of electoral violence or other provocative behaviours should stop.

The elections must be held in a conducive atmosphere and Nigerians must be free to elect their leaders. Time has gone when people are forced to accept leaders they do not deserve. If anything, they should decide who should lead them, and this is the only opportunity they have to do so within the next four years. We, therefore, call on all  stakeholders to do all they can to ensure successful elections, because democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

All said, in the spirit of sportsmanship, we urge our politicians who eventually win elections to be magnanimous in victory and to show that victory belongs to the people. In essence, they should carry everybody along, because in the final analysis, there should be no victor and no vanquished.