Say No To Political Violence

Election is the beauty and the principle of democracy.
The moment election is characterised by violence it rubbishes the essence of democracy. The introduction of violence right from the Pre-and Post-Colonial period was a setback to the development and establishment of democracy in Nigeria.
Right from the period of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and Action Group, there was violence and this has continued unabated by successive governments and political parties, irrespective of their slogans. No wonder the popular slogan in Nigeria’s politics is “If you cannot beat them, join them”. And this has stood the test of time in Nigerian democracy. Violence as option or tool in winning election was alien to the founding father of democracy in the world. The high level of violence observed in Nigeria is heartbreaking.
Indeed, from 1999 till date thousands of lives had been lost and properties worth billions of naira destroyed. This alone causes anxiety and fear in the hearts of Nigerians each time they hear of elections.
Violence in democratic election has reduced human right to nothing. A situation where fear of violence has automatically disenfranchise the willing electorate, what do you expect? Voters’ apathy, of course. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) publicly declared that about 82 million Nigerians registered before the elections as voters. But accreditation during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections was below fifty percent of the registered voters in Nigeria. This might be as a result of fear of imminent violence common with democratic elections in Nigeria.
Violence gives room to high-level rigging of election results. It encourages electoral malpractices. Voters apathy is another effect of violence in Nigeria’s democratic election. The recently conducted Presidential and National Assembly elections witnessed mind-blowing violence in some states like Rivers, Lagos, Kwara, Akwa Ibom etc. For how long shall this ugly and barbaric practice continue in Nigeria’s political elections?
A situation where violence mars the electoral process is unacceptable in this modern democracy. It is sad that guns are freely used by political militias and security agencies in Nigeria during elections. Every election, be it market women union, road transport workers, students union election, village council election also witnesses high profile violence. Any election that leads to the popularity of the occupant of the office and financial benefits attracts violence.
The question is, why is it so in Nigeria? Indeed, it is worthy to mention that Nigeria was not the only country that held election in February 2019. Senegal did without widespread violence and invasion of communities by armed men and soldiers. The introduction of violence in an electoral system also leads to bad government and under-development of the country. A situation where political parties engage the services of militias during election is dangerous to democracy. When shall Nigerians witness violence free elections? When shall unnecessary arrest of political opponents stop? When shall killings of political opponent stop in Nigeria? Democratically, it has been observed that Nigeria is not making progress. There is no cogent reason better enough to arrest political opponents who have not indulged in fraudulent actions.
The newly elected President of Democratic Republic of Congo has vowed to release every political prisoner in every prison in the DRC. Albert Mukong, in his book: “A prison without Crime” reveals how politicians in government use government power to maltreat their perceived political opponents.
Indeed, it has been said time without number, that politics is not war. Democracy is not war but a way of selecting few people to man the affairs of the state. The practice of violence during election is wickedness in its entirety.
Violence has caused hardship on the populace and has made some people homeless and fatherless. Nigerians do not deserve to see violence in any election in the country. The effects of violence in our elections are glaring to the physical eyes. Therefore, say no to violence and embrace peace. Let the right thing be done during elections. The high level of bitterness showcased by politicians should be done away with for violence to be a thing of the past.
Ogwuonuonu wrote in from Port Harcourt.

Frank Ogwuonuonu