More Pacts, More Violence

In the past few weeks,
several agreements have been signed by candidates of various political parties in the country, aimed at ensuring no violence before, during and after the forth coming general elections.
The first was the Abuja Accord of January 14, 2015, where Presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic party (PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari of All progressives congress (APC) and other presidential candidates in the elections signed a pact. They apparently consented to ensuring that they, and their supporters would avoid conducts that could lead to violence in the country both  before and after the elections.
Subsequently, other contestants at the state level have also agreed on behalf of  their supporters to ensure that the country is not torn apart because of the elections. In Rivers State, the peace accord, which was signed on January 22, 2015, governorship candidates of PDP, APC and Labour Party was witnessed by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, notable religious leaders and other witnesses.
Incidentally, all these moves presumably geared towards preventing violence during the March 28 and April 11 polls have not yielded the desired results as violence cases are still on the increase. Just few days after the Abuja Accord, President Jonathan’s campaign train was reportedly attacked in Katsina and Bauchi states. In Bauchi, some irate youths allegedly pelted the dignitaries with stones and other dangerous objects, destroying some of the canopies erected and plastic chairs already arranged for the PDP rally.
The situation is not different in many other states where political campaign venues have been turned to battle fields, and rallies seen as opportunities to abuse and reduce the personality of political opponents.
Just last Tuesday, the APC rally in Okrika was reportedly marred by explosions and sporadic gunshots. No fewer than 50  persons, including a journalist were  injured while a policeman lost his life.
Indeed, the increasing spate of violence in the country should border any well meaning individual. We are merely changing or retaining the mantle of leadership at various levels of government, is that why the country should be self-ablaze?
I think all the people involved in this dangerous game should be made to realize that Nigeria is bigger than any individual and it is very wrong for a few individuals to make life unbearable for other  citizens because of their selfish interest. Democracy is supposed to be all about imploring and persuading the electorates, not forcing them to support you through any means.
Again, democracy provides citizens the freedom of association, freedom of speech and other human right. It is therefore unthinkable that  during electioneering process in a democratic regime, citizens will be denied these basic rights.
It is pertinent that the security agencies, the federal government and other stak holders should address this ugly development before it gets out of hand as the consequences of further delay in correcting the anomalies could be dangerous. Already, there is growing apathy among the electorates and the  increasing rate of violence can only make the situation worse.
To adequately tackle election violence it is advisable that perpetrators of this crime should be arrested and brought to book. A situation where the police would claim to be investing incidences of political violence but no one is ever known to be arrested and punished doesn’t indicate any commitment towards solving the problem.
So, to reduce violence and ensure the success of this year’s general election, all hands must be on deck. While the security agencies should not be seen to be partisan by allowing a level playing field for all contestants, the federal government should take all necessary steps to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible since rigging and other acts of electoral malpractices constitute the immediate trigger for anger and violence during and after election. INEC should carry out its duties without fear, favour or bars and should be allowed to do its job.
Right from the period of independence till date, the country has faced a huge challenge of organising a free, fair, credible and transparent election. The ability of various electoral bodies to conduct elections whose results would be accepted by the generality of the people had always resulted in election violence which led to loss of lives and properties.
And unless concented efforts are made to prevent anything that could lead to similar occurrence, all the peace accords will amount to naught.

Calista Ezeaku