By Ayodele Fagbohun

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The apparent lukewarmness of the Federal Government to the  attacks on INEC installations across the country is a source of great concern and anxiety for 2023 presidential election and ip so facto the survival of fledging democracy in Nigeria.

With bravado, subversive elements consistently unleash malicious damage, mayhem and arson on public property and assets willfully, without any sense of remorse and scruple. This unseemly and cowardly act/crime raises apprehension, fears and put a very big question mark on the rationale behind the conduct of free, fair and credible 2023 general elections acceptable to global best practices within the orbit of modern nations.

That is the major reason President Muhammadu Buhari must, as a matter of urgency and priority halt the creeping and sporadic electoral violence in the country. Mr President should match with action several pronouncements candidly expressed both at home and abroad on his government’s resolute commitment and implementation of new Electoral Act to guarantee credible and transparent 2023 general elections.

Electoral violence should as a matter of rule carry stiffer sanctions or penalties not less than capital punishment or long term sentence behind bars on the perpetrators of the dastardly heinous act. Besides, electoral or political violence is anathema, virtually non existence in advanced countries of the world.

No nation in recorded history ever goes on willful rampage, in utter bestiality to either slaughter her brightest and leading lights in the name of elections or torch valuable national assets, properties and patrimonies to settle political scores.

It must prick the conscience of Federal Government and its security architecture to be more daring, forthcoming and be proactive in response to stimuli in gathering adequate intelligence reports to decisively nip the menace in the bud.

Security operatives are duty bound to act fast and swiftly arrest the patrons behind the sinister and unpatriotic treasonable and conspiratorial crimes to dismember the country out of desperation to rule in hell rather than serve in the paradise.

How on earth can an enlightened world rationalize the unprovoked premeditated arson and wanton malicious damage on public facilities and infrastructure by some misguided political rough necks disappearing to thin air?

These terrible undesirable elements are probably within the age bracket of youths desiring to take over the rulership of the country on government payroll or on the war chest of influential, despicable money bags’ politicians.

The incendiary proclivity of some political leaders know no bounds. Out of greed and sheer lust for power, they desire to hang on tenaciously in office regardless of the outcry of the people against misrule.

It is sad commentary that political violence often brings in its trail bizarre killings and unfortunate waste of our promising youths. The affected youths are invariably sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

Of course, electoral violence and brigandage dated back to the chequered history of the nation in the first Republic; having attained independence from the British colonial masters on October 1, 1960.

It was a follow-up to the constitutional deadlock in the old western region as the late Premier, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola foisted his splinter group, Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) on the region.

Thus, Chief S. L. Akintola tried fruitlessly to supplant the leadership of his political boss and leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.  Meanwhile, Awo alongside some political associates were serving various long terms behind bars on trumped charges of treason and conspiracy to overthrow Abubakar Tafawa Balewa’s Federal Government.

The masses in the Western Region stood solidly behind the leadership of Awo and the newly installed premier, Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro as constitutionally elected premier under the platform of Action Group (AG) ruling party in the Western House of Assembly.

The people and government of Western Region vehemently rejected Akintola intransigence and the unholy alliance of a factional government of S. L. Akintola/Balewa led Nigeria National Alliance (NNA) Federal Government as totally unacceptable throughout Western Region.

The die was cast. The litmus test to display solidarity for Awo-in-jail and his embattled Action Group (AG); to unleash overwhelming defeat on a coalition government of Akintola/Balewa led NNA in the ensuing Regional and Federal elections.

Thus, elections in the West was tense, a do-or-die affair to restore constitutional government in the region and to subsequently effect the release of Awo and his colleagues languishing in prison.

Basking in the euphoria of federal might, Akintola ‘taku’ not willing to relinquish the premiership in a free and fair election. Akintola would rather stay put and die in office than to face imminent defeat at the polls, which he eventually did!

This led to brazen electoral mayhem and violence; burning of people and property which were horrendous and unmitigated disaster known as operation ‘weti e’. Then, in January 15, 1966 the army struck in a bloody revolution, heralding the first coup de tat ever known in history which put paid to civilian rule and democracy in Nigeria.

It is a matter for regret that none of the military juntas that imposed maximum iron rule on the country ever deemed it fit to address the vexed issue of electoral malfeasance and meted out appropriate penalties commensurate to the enormity of electoral brigandage to serve as deterrents to others in the long stay of military despotism considered as period of “melancholy interlude” in the nation’s history.

It rankles on ‘ad nauseam’. Elections are periodically held but blatantly rigged by the powers at the helm to hand on “sine die”. If there is no justice and fairplay, peace only becomes a midnight summer dream. What on ground shall be tantamount to peace of the graveyard and stability of standing still.

More often than not, violence starts from the primary elections of individual parties to the polling units while casting the ballots. The security operatives should be up and doing; be proactive to deal with every situation as it presents itself. The leadership of various political parties should enforce party discipline into the rank and file of delegates to choose governorship aspirants that can deliver and sustain peaceful governance.

Nigeria is at the cross roads, no doubt. Nonetheless, come 2023 presidential elections, a brand new government shall be installed to give the country a new direction and lease of life. No Jupiter on earth shall stop the election from taking place as it is a constitutional issue which must unfailingly run its full course unhindered.

These unpatriotic and itinerant political quislings are collaborating with our enemies both within and outside our shores under subterranean agenda to create banana republic in the guise of phony election.

The so called election will come under stricture by United Nations and not acceptable to international community.

By now, the outcome of Justice Uwais panel on Electoral Offences’ tribunal if implemented should have strengthened the course of democracy. Those obdurate elements who constitute themselves as a menace to peaceful conduct of our electoral process would have been summarily dealt with.

President Muhammadu Buhari should quickly send this fundamental recommendation on electoral offences’ tribunal to the National Assembly for quick passage as matter of urgent public importance.

Anyone no matter his standing in the society that constitutes an agent of electoral malpractice and a clog in the wheel of electoral process before, during and after elections should be arrested and ruthlessly dealt with according to the law.