BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
Conscious of the importance of a peaceful electioneering climate in the overall credibility of any electoral exercise, the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar and Catholic Bishop, Matthew Kukah, rallied 18 political parties fielding candidates for the 2023 Nigeria general elections to sign a Peace Accord on Thursday, 29 September 2022.
The Peace Accord was initiated, primarily to promote peaceful campaigns and elections ahead of the 2023 general elections. At the event, chairmen and presidential candidates of the political parties signed the Peace Accord. However, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, was represented by his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima. Chairman of the NPC, General Abubakar, enjoined the parties and their candidates to comply with the electoral laws and carry out their campaigns based on issues that are of significant concern to Nigerians.
The Committee had increased the number of Peace Accord signing at the national level from one to two. While the first represented a commitment to peaceful election campaigns, the second was to ensure that candidates accepted the outcome of the elections as long as they were adjudged to be free, fair and credible, and in the event of any doubt, resort to the judicial process.
Following the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the formal campaign for the presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off on Wednesday, 28 September. Candidates and their political parties were declared free by INEC to actively engage with Nigerians on their manifestos and canvass for votes ahead of the national elections slated for 25th February 2023.
For the records, previous elections, particularly those of 2007, and 2011 general elections were characterised by serious violence. The campaign period leading up to the 2015 elections which saw an incumbent President concede defeat, was also trailed by violent rhetoric, while the 2019 elections saw a considerable level of election violence and militarisation. Happily, during the recent off-cycle elections, the level of electoral violence drastically reduced. However, money politics and vote buying appeared to have intensified.
But there seemed to be deliberate efforts to undermine and trample upon the Peace Accord facilitated by the NPC. Provocative rhetoric and languages that have a violent slant continue to surface on social and traditional media to the chagrin of well-meaning Nigerians.
Last week, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who is seeking re-election to the lower chamber for a record seventh term, was spotted at a rally in a viral video, threatening his constituents that they’ll be dealt with if they don’t vote for the APC.
The APC federal lawmaker, representing Doguwa/Tudun-Wada Federal Constituency in Kano State, while issuing the threat, was seen being pacified by members of his entourage, but in an abusive language in Hausa, the Kano politician continued his rage against his constituents.
Doguwa was quoted to have allegedly sworn that, “To God who made me, on election day, you must vote for APC or we deal with you. I’m saying it again: on election day you either vote for APC, or we deal with you.”
He then asked the constituent to “Repeat after me, in Doguwa, you either vote for APC or we deal with you,” he said amidst a chorus of applause from the audience.
“The basic duty of the government is to protect the lives and property of the people. So, why will you be in government, attacking people and making inciting statements?”
Doguwa’s tendency to be violent first surfaced in early November, when he was reported to have clashed with Murtala Garo, the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the state, and allegedly attacked him with a teacup.
Following his violent act, the State House of Assembly in a statement by the Majority Leader, Labaran Madari, called on both the state and the national headquarters of the APC to take appropriate measures against Doguwa, “considering his negative attitude and behaviour which go beyond the borders of right thinking person. His behaviour grossly violated the ethics of the party.”
Doguwa’s threat to his constituents came just days after the state’s party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, at the flag-off of the party’s campaign in Gaya on November 23, vowed that the ruling party would win the state in 2023, either “by hook or crook”.
Abbas, at the campaign, was quoted to have said, “People are saying that I should stop saying the APC will capture Kano by hook or crook. I want to tell this gathering that the APC will capture Kano by hook or crook. We have today demonstrated our resolve of winning the election from top to bottom come the year 2023.”
Opposition parties and stakeholders both in the state and in the region, have described the threats as a way of instigating violence in the state, in order for the outcome of the elections to turn out in their own favour. They called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the various security agencies to wake up to their duties and sanction both party chieftains, as well as others, committing such acts that threaten the peace before, during and after next year’s elections.
Condemning the threat by Doguwa, lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly in the Senate and former governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Shehu Sani said, “The threat to deal with anyone who refuses to vote for the ruling APC in Kano is unfortunate and a serious threat to peaceful elections. I advise the ranking Honorable member involved, who is still a lawmaker for over two decades to withdraw this statement.”
WE’LL NOT SIGN ANY PEACE PACT – NNPP KANO GUBER
Giving his own submission, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, speaking to The Point through his spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, also berated the APC chieftains for their violent utterances which he described as “reckless statements capable of destroying the relative peace in Kano.”
Yusuf threatened that he and his party in the state, have resolved not to sign any peace pact if the state’s APC chairman is not brought to order, adding that, “we’ve written to the police in Kano, the DSS, and other security agencies to take note of such utterances from the APC.”
He said, “They’ve been known for these kinds of utterances right from 2019. Their utterances are instigating a crisis and there have been sporadic attacks in various places within the Kano metropolis because of these kinds of statements. We’re calling on security agencies to really checkmate these guys. In fact, my party has made a threat also, not to sign any election peace accord if the APC is not called to order.
“The tactics of the APC are by hook or by crook, frightening voters not to come out to vote and exercise their civic rights. They started by buying the Permanent Voters Card from unsuspecting members of society. In Kano, we hinted the police who were able to make some arrests.
“Right now, an APC Chairman in one of our local governments is already in the correctional center. He’s been sentenced to two years in prison because he was caught with PVCs. They wanted to reduce the number of people who can come out and vote because they know that the chances of the APC are very slim. So, after that attempt to buy all the PVCs failed, they now resorted to making intimidating statements, so that they can frighten voters not to even come out to the polling stations on Election Day.
“What we are saying is that Nigerians, Kano, in particular, have suffered enough to resist any political intimidation. People need to really vote APC out because prices of food stuff, fuel, and electricity have gone up, life has become so miserable, even to the middle class, talk less of the poorest of the poor. Therefore, whatever the APC can do or say, they can’t prevent the Kano people from actually exercising their civic rights. Nobody can disenfranchise the Kano people on Election Day.
“We’re calling on security agencies to really call them into order. We are saying this because we’re actually referencing the Nigerian law that says self-defense is permissible. We can’t just fold our arms seeing people maiming, attacking, injuring and even killing innocent people and our supporters, just because we belong to the opposition.
“The basic duty of the government is to protect the lives and property of the people. So, why will you be in government, attacking people and making inciting statements? This will destroy the hard earned relative peace in the state. Kano is extremely fragile, we’re the most populous state in Nigeria, and it’s a conservative state, a business and commercial hub of Northern Nigeria.
“We have every tribe, every religion living in Kano. Kano is our own, so we’ll not allow anybody, irrespective of his political inclinations, political office, or whatever position he holds today, to make people miserable just because he feels like he is in government and he’s not ready to leave. They’ll leave, and they’ll leave through the power of voters who will vote them out come 2023,” he stated.
RULING PARTY SEES NIGERIANS AS SLAVES – LP
Also utterly disgusted by the comment by both party leaders in the state, the Labour Party Spokesperson for North-West, Ndi Kato, told The Point that their action was an indication that the ruling party “sees Nigerians as slaves to be subdued, subjugated and who don’t deserve freedom.”
Kato added that INEC and security agencies vested with the duty of curbing inciting acts such as these are acting like it’s nothing, warning that their silence is a form of encouragement to such politicians and others alike, to continue with their violent statements and actions.
“APC has decided not to campaign on issues, they barely try to sell what it is they’re going to accomplish but continue to feed the grassroots with threats of what will happen to them if they don’t vote for them. This is also a call out to INEC and all the responsible authorities.
“I was speaking to an INEC staff days ago, and he said INEC actually sends out staff to go and monitor campaign rallies. Did you know that? They go to monitor campaign rallies to ensure that there are no irregularities, or illegalities in these campaign rallies. Part of the illegalities is things like these inciting words that are harmful to Nigerians being said, INEC should take action. Let’s even assume INEC was not there, the video went around, but INEC is refusing to do anything about it.
“We are seeing that the Nigerian Police Force and all authorities that are supposed to take action against these threats to the lives of Nigerians are acting like it’s nothing. The major problem Nigeria has is not the absence of laws, it is implementation. Nobody wants to take action but if somebody from the opposition makes such statements, you can imagine how all of them will rise up.
“Impunity is being encouraged by authorities because when you don’t reward these kinds of things with immediate arrest, you’re encouraging it, and it’s so disappointing. The way APC has governed Nigerians; they don’t see Nigerians as human beings because if they did, they won’t treat them like this. With the statement these men made, INEC and the police force are supposed to take action but we’ve not heard from them and I can assure you that they’ve seen it. It’s very disappointing) he stated.
Likening the APC chieftains’ comment and threat with those by terrorist kingpins to communities, Kato said such threats to the electorate by the ruling party, totally eliminate a level playing field for opposition parties, as the people are left to vote for the ruling party, not out of their hearts, but out of fear of being victimised, especially in areas where terrorism, killings, kidnappings and other violent vices have gradually become a way of life, hence, bending to the intimidation and threats, in such areas is now quite easy.
“When you’re using threats and intimidation, it means there’s no level playing ground for opposition parties because the people already feel afraid for their lives to vote for the ruling party. So, how do you go and tell those people about policies when somebody has told them that they’ll be dealt with? And you know the kind of things going on in the north, people are going through so much.
“If somebody says they’ll deal with you, at this time of kidnapping and killing, you know what it is the person is saying. So, will people listen to what will make their lives better? Will they listen to policies when their lives are at stake? What they are saying is tantamount to what bandit kingpins like Bello Turji would say. What has he said that’s different from what Bello Turji says to a community that if you don’t do like this, I will kill? Imagine going to that same community a bandit kingpin has reigned over and telling them that, while they are still trying to survive. It’s quite unfair.
“Occurrences like this should be put down. Nobody, even the NNPP, or PDP will be happy about this kind of message. It’s upon all of us to raise our voices and call for a better Nigeria, that whoever wins the election, we want to govern a Nigeria where the country is not lawless, where the rule of law is kind, and where there are no sacred cows or anybody that can just say anything and get away with it. This isn’t right and the authorities must take charge,” she urged.
Expressing worry over the rising cases of electoral violence in the country, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties said the 2023 general elections is under threat, despite assurances by the INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders.
“Such threats to the electorate by the ruling party, totally eliminate a level playing field for opposition parties, as the people are left to vote for the ruling party, not out of their hearts, but out of fear of being victimised, especially in areas where terrorism, killings, kidnappings, and other violent vices have gradually become a way of life”
In a statement issued, last week by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, CNPP warned that unless political thugs were treated as enemies of the state, the ongoing attacks on politically exposed persons would endanger the credibility of the 2023 elections.
He stated that “Despite the recent marching order to security agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari, through the National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), to deal decisively with individuals or groups trying to prevent peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election, the hope of violence-free electioneering may be dashed.
“Our major fear is that from the records of the Federal Government as revealed by the NSA that Nigeria recorded 52 acts of political violence across 22 states between October 8 and November 9, 2022, there seems to be gross inaction on the part of security agencies, particularly the police, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this violence.”
Recently, angered by rising political violence in Borno State, especially during last month’s attack on the PDP presidential campaign convoy in Maiduguri, the state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, ordered the Nigerian Police Force and the DSS to arrest the culprits irrespective of their political party affiliations.
His spokesman Malam Isa Gusau, indicated in a statement that the governor directed the Commissioner of Police to investigate and ensure all culprits are arrested and prosecuted according to the law, saying the safe existence of societies, is the fundamental basis of government and as such the state ought to be secured for the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“I have received reports on renewed acts of political violence in the state. I strongly condemn these extremely unnecessary acts of violence and hereby direct the Commissioner of Police and the DSS to immediately investigate and ensure anyone involved is made to face the full wrath of the law.”
“I am directing heads of security agencies under the Borno State security council to immediately convene a meeting with critical representatives of all major political parties, particularly the APC and PDP, get them to sign undertakings and strikingly warn against all acts of violence with punitive measures rolled out for any culprit, especially politicians who might be instigating violence, no matter how highly placed they might be.
“In the meantime, I strongly urge supporters of all political parties not to disseminate false statements that can incite violence. We should endeavor to promote peace.
“I have always been against political thuggery and for us in Borno State, we have seen enough violence from our over 12 years of insurgency. Instigating political violence is simply being ungrateful to Allah for the peace He is granting us after over 12 years of prayers for His divine intervention,” the governor stated.
