The other day in parts of Ilorin there were attacks by political thugs against their opponents. This is as tension builds up even as elections are due in about two weeks. Perpetrators of violence especially in this political season have no place in modern Nigeria as that kind of behaviour is synonymous with our past. But that is just Ilorin. There are concerns around this year’s election. More importantly, there are actions that have been taken by political actors and government agencies that have the capacity to cause strife.
More worrisome however is recent warnings by the National Security Adviser, NSA that political actors are stocking arms that they will use to unleash mayhem during the polls. This disclosure perhaps necessitated a meeting between the NSA, police chief and governors under the auspices of Nigerian Governors’ Forum. Speaking to journalists, chairman of the forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari, disclosed that it was an emergency meeting held with the Office of the NSA and heads of security agencies .
The significance of the danger is informed by the meeting, which was at the instance of the NSA, called to update the governors on the security situation in the country as the general elections approach. The NSA wants the governors to become part of the implementation of security measures for the smooth conduct of the elections. Yari used the occasion to register his displeasure over the spate of kidnapping across the country and had recommended stronger collaboration and intelligence sharing amongst security agencies to ensure that lives and properties are protected. After the meeting, he further explained that the governors had further resolved to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.
According to Yari, governors were also alarmed at the spate of kidnapping across the country and had recommended stronger collaboration and intelligence sharing amongst security agencies to ensure that lives and properties are protected. He further explained that the governors had further resolved to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible. Continuing, Yari said: “Governors are major stakeholders. They seek our cooperation so that their job would be easier. We promised to do our best and ensure the election is free and credible. Not only that, we came through the ballot box and we are going through the same process to seek re-election and make sure that the election is free and is commended by the international community as they did in 2015.”
Also speaking, the NSA, Babagana Monguno, remarked that politicians who fear that they may lose the coming elections are the ones plotting to disrupt the exercise, warning, however, that security forces would deal with anyone caught engaging in such acts. According to Monguno, intelligence reports show that there are plans by some individuals and groups to foment violence during and after the elections. “Reports reaching me have revealed that some individuals that are uncertain of their fate in the elections are plotting to participate in widespread violence aimed at scuttling the polls,” he said, adding that the strategy of the politicians is to cause crises that can spiral out of control for the government and the people.
While we doubt that it is only “losers” that is likely to cause mayhem, we however agree that security agencies must be atop their game. NSA further stated that “In this regard, we owe Nigerians the duty to protect and preserve their lives and property regardless of our individual or group aspirations.” He reiterated that government would not tolerate any thuggery or bearing of illegal weapons .“Government will demonstrate zero tolerance to political thuggery and illegal bearing of fire-arms”, he added.
We want these warnings to be strictly adhered to. The same way we expect that this elaborate meeting should not become a tool to target the opposition. Government must not use security agents to harass the opposition in the name of preventing violence before, during or after the elections. Every stakeholder must be equally treated, that’s part of being fair during electioneering. It is heartwarming that all states’ commissioners of police had been instructed to arrest anyone bearing firearms illegally or engaged in acts of violence during the elections.
We also believe that the directive to stop pseudo or quasi security outfits, such as vigilante groups from playing any roles in election security is welcome. However, every segment of our politics must be treated equally. Security agencies should not look away when it involves the ruling party. We hold his words of assurance on the neutrality of the security agencies against the backdrop of allegations in certain quarters, even as he revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA had organised refresher courses for its personnel on election duty.
