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Vote For Violence-free Elections

By Editor
29 March 2015   |   5:00 am
SIR: IN the recent decades, Nigeria has been in the news for very ugly reasons. From independence to date, electoral violence in Nigeria has improved in sophistication. The culture of violence has not only been imbibed and sustained as part of the country’s political behaviour it has been one of the potent causes of the low participation of Nigerian’s in politics and other social activities.
Voting-in-Nigeria

General election voters

SIR: IN the recent decades, Nigeria has been in the news for very ugly reasons. From independence to date, electoral violence in Nigeria has improved in sophistication.

The culture of violence has not only been imbibed and sustained as part of the country’s political behaviour it has been one of the potent causes of the low participation of Nigerian’s in politics and other social activities.

Political violence negates peaceful co-existence, law and order. It also militates against the consolidation of democracy and social co-existence, which would have impact on the social, economic wellbeing of the nation and create imbalance in social relations.

These are concerns for security operatives and it is important that adequate security is maintained before, during and after the general elections.

Ultimately, if this ugly trend of electoral violence is not nipped in the bud now, it could be a free and unmitigated gateway to the disintegration of the country in tandem with the rumored prediction by the U.S State Department.

Nigeria is already on the brink of total collapse and many are already describing it as a failed state. Thus, any serious challenge beyond its controlling capacity becomes the clarion call ‘to your tent oh Israel’.

All hands must be on deck to prevent this from happening because the problems that go with such disintegrative process are overwhelming. A peep at what is happening in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Central African Republic, etc is frightening enough.

“Political violence negates peaceful co-existence, law and order. It also militates against the consolidation of democracy and social co-existence, which would have impact on the social, economic wellbeing of the nation and create imbalance in social relations”

So, the importance of security in any given nation cannot be over-emphasized because it goes with governance. The 2015 general election is turning out to be one of the most contested since the return of democracy.

As a country, we need to avoid or shun any post election violence because we faced a bigger threat of division. It is, however, important that this election goes smoothly and the people should accept the results without recourse to violence.

There is also the need for security personnel comprising policemen, army, navy, air force and other paramilitary agencies to intensify patrol of roads and streets in towns and cities across the country to demonstrate their combat readiness ahead of the elections.

Emergence of the wrong people, which could result from voter apathy arising from fear of violence into political offices in Nigeria will lead to poor leadership that cannot drive home the visions of the country. Wrong leadership is evil and evil leadership is a forerunner to destruction and underdevelopment.

• Nuratu Oyetunji,
Wuye, Abuja

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