Politics
Stakeholders Urge Violence-Free Polls In Bayelsa, Kogi
Twenty-three days to the November 16 gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States, the Nigeria Police have identified the imposition of candidates and flagrant disregard to electoral laws, as some of the main reasons for election violence in the country.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigerian Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone Five, Dibal Yakadi, also identified unemployment and illiteracy as some other factors fueling electoral violence.
The stakeholders’ meeting that involved traditional rulers, party leaders, the civil societies, candidates of political parties and community leaders, was held at the Police officers Mess in Yenagoa.
The AIG said everyone has a role to play in order to archive a violence-free, fair and credible election, adding: “The increasing prevalence of electoral violence in our society today is a cause for security concern. Crime and violence in Nigeria today undermine the social fabric of our societal value by eroding the sense of safety and security
“It is always a tradition for the Nigerian police at the commands and zonal level to call stakeholders for such an important meeting during election especially now that election is gathering momentum in Bayelsa and Kogi states
“It is estimated that $3billion dollars worth of small arms and light weapons are transported illegally across national borders every year with figures increasing in geometric proportion.
“Availability of arms and light weapons has contributed to youth involvement in crime and election violence. Other factors includes easy access and consumption of illicit drugs, illiteracy and lack of access to education, lack of manpower and logistics support for law enforcement agencies,” he added.
The AIG also decried the imposition of candidates by political parties against people’s wish, flagrant disregard to free and fair election by politicians and other stakeholders, maintaining that inadequate voter-education, corruption, lack of internal democracy among critical parties inhibit free and fair elections.
“The fear of losing power in the face of uncertainty and abuse of electoral laws such as rigging, votes buying, multi registration,” he said, disposes political actors to violence.
While urging INEC to make sure that the forthcoming elections meet and satisfy international best practices, the Police boss said they can achieve that by partnering security agencies as well as educating both voters and the political parties to guarantee credible election.
Earlier, the Chairman Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Alfred Diets Spiff, pleaded with those that might lose the election, to accept the outcome in good faith and not to engage in actions that could lead to loss of lives and property.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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