Perpetrators of the northern violence were said to be protesting the victory of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the President-elect, after presidential poll. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party polled a total of 22,495,187, representing 58.89 per cent of the valid votes cast to emerge as the winner. The crisis in the North is condemnable. What the perpetrators have done is to take laws into their hands and perpetrate crime by the wanton destruction of lives and property. The pattern of attacks points to the fact that victims of the violence are PDP members, non-muslims and Nigerians, who are non-natives of the northern states. Therefore, one can say they were targeted at discrediting Jonathan’s victory. States where violence occurred were Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Adamawa, Plateau, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno and Sokoto where prominent people were said to have lost their belongings, razed down by the irate youths. Inmates of the Zaria Central Prison were allegedly set free.
For some time now, the northern part of the country has been riddled with ethno – religious crisis. The Jos crisis, perhaps, appears to be the most severe and protracted. The current crisis is not religious but purely political. While it is the right of the people to freely support candidates of their choice, they are equally at liberty not to support anyone, but this must be within the ambit of the law. If the allegation that violence has erupted because the rioters felt a northern candidate did not win the presidential race, then the issue at stake becomes a very serious problem. The legal way of seeking redress on electoral matters is explicitly stated in the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Arbitrary use of brute force by the rioters on helpless fellow Nigerians is evil and should, therefore, not be swept under the carpet.
Experiences from similar crises in the past showed that those found or apprehended for engaging in civil disturbances were sponsored by influential, rich and well placed personalities in the society. Going by this, it will not be surprising if the latest onslaught in the northern part of the country is the handiwork of mean people, with the backing of politicians. The government should immediately swing into action by curbing the violence before it spreads further.
The implications of the current imbroglio are grievous. Firstly, the next round of elections is under threat. The remaining polls have been fixed for April 26. If the chaotic situation continues, the holding of a free, fair and credible elections may not be feasible. And should this happen, it will portend a great setback to the yearnings of the people and the nation for a representative democracy. Secondly, the situation will further dent the image of the country. As we know, the nation is gradually crawling into limelight of comity of nations going by the impressive way and manner the 2011 elections have been conducted so far. The violence is a negative blow on our image.
Thirdly, the call for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme is still on. Justification for the scrapping of the lofty programme would be heightened if corps members are being maimed and murdered by their fellow citizens while serving their fatherland. Perpetrators and sponsors of the violent clashes should be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law because it is when offenders are punished that a just society is established. Nigeria has not been reputed to bring to book, perpetrators and violators of the law. No wonder, sectarian crises persist.
I ask myself, why can’t the rioters and their sponsors cannot pause, ponder awhile, lay down their arms and weapons of destruction and embrace peace? They should realize that the nation is seriously bleeding as a result of the injury and pains inflicted on it due to bad leadership and governance. Nigeria, a promising country has found it difficult to get it right after its political independence, shattered by military rule and an attempt to get back to the path of greatness is again being threatened. The northerners have ruled this country more than other ethnic nationalities, put together. I honestly feel the violence mongers and co-travellers are not considerate, objective, patriotic and realistic. Why can’t we learn from other nations? That is, where they have decided to go the hard way. Egypt, Libya and Cote d’Ivoire are recent cases.
As we hope for a quick end to the quagmire, all stakeholders should rise to the challenge and put an end to the violence. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, parents and local authorities should be more vigilant and pro-active in taming the monster, which has suddenly become cancerous and security risk to the corporate existence of the nation.
The affected state commissioners of police should be summoned and made to realize the consequence of their lapses and inactions. They should be made to check their officers and men, as some law enforcement agents have been compromised. Those found to be inefficient and partisan should be sanctioned, in line with the public service rule. Those who refuse to toe the legal path and have opted for violence should be made to realize that violence is not the way. A better and enduring approach is to embrace dialogue and peace. Afterall, man’s desires, aspirations and wishes for a better society can only manifest in the absence of violence.
Author: Adewale Kupoluyi/University of Agriculture/Abeokuta, Ogun State.