2015: Election and Politicking void of Violence By Dr. Lewis Akpogena This article first written and published in 2007 and republished in 2011 is here reproduced with alterations as the need of republication is obvious in light of increasing wave of political motivated violence in an election year. Writing on 2015 Election: A genuine threat to Nigeria’s stability? Chinwe Ogochukwu Ikpeama said and l agree: With Nigeria’s vast ethnic and religious diversity, creating “national unity” in Nigeria is a challenge, especially between its “Muslim north” and “Christian south”. The country‘s major political issues have strong regional implications, especially the activities of Boko Haram. With the 2015 national elections, political activities are in full swing, and grassroots pressures are growing in the far north, including from extremist groups like Boko Haram and Ansaru and also different agitations from the different parts of the country. As the debate on the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 presidential election continues to heat up the polity, two northern leaders (Aliyu Babaginda and Buhari) have warned that crisis might emerge of huge proportions capable of breaking up the country if President Jonathan continues on his campaign to be re – elected in 2015 The 2015 Presidential election is approaching, but Nigeria is at war with itself. Insecurity, unlimited to ethno-religious factors, is mounting and concerns will persist about government’s inability to deliver a peaceful environment and ensure human security. The fact is that the prevailing violence presents an operational hurdle for peacebuilding which also could undermine Nigeria’s growth and development. As the deteriorating security situation continues, concerns will persist about the government’s ability to deliver a climate that would make some regions less dangerous before the 2015 Presidential election gathers steam. The rising tide of domestic extremism, kidnapping and militancy are a threat to the nation. The factual assertion is that the prevailing violence will hinder large public rallies during campaign due to security concerns. The country’s leaders need to take stock of the conflict resolution mechanisms in place to deal with the political divide between north and south, Muslim and Christian, and to prevent electoral violence in 2015. Additionally, perceptions of fair play, regional balance and power share will all determine future national stability Identity politics have been utilised in differentiating ethno-religious groups. In Nigeria, religion provides a basis for identity and commitment; conflicts exist between communities in a bid to promote their religious or cultural values. A person can only be voted for, if he is a Muslim or Christian, Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba. It is no longer a quest of who is the best candidate but which tribe or religion one is attached to. There have been multiple reasons attributed to these clashes but predominantly religious and ethnic intolerance. Religious identity is another commonly defined form of recognition. In Nigeria it is grouped under Islam, Christian and Traditional. These religious groups often clash mostly between the Christians and Muslims. The resultant effect of these sectarian clashes, is the emergence of ethnic militant and religious groups notably, Boko Haram. According to Reynal (2002), “there are two basic reasons why religious differences can generate more violence than other social cleavages. Exclusively of religion, you can speak multiple languages but you can have only one religion”. It is an identity marker that forms the major differences in social relationship and people’s concept of the world. Religion transcends national boundaries, hence Al-Qaeda’s link with Boko Haram of Nigeria. In religion there is usually the concept of an “us versus them” which most religious fundamentalist tend to use The recent exploits of Boko Haram and the kidnapping of over 200 school girls has drawn the attention of United States and other international communities to Nigeria. Human security is called into question with these entire crises because the citizens are left vulnerable. Conflicts has led to mutual distrust, that threatens the security of the country, the people, property, environment and has led to the high rate of emigration within and outside the country. The state has the responsibility to safeguard its citizen’s lives, property, human rights etc. and should employ policies that will clamp down on any form of perceived threat against its citizens. Nigeria being a focal point in West Africa should not downplay the consequences of these conflicts, hence the need to face the challenges squarely by implementing policies geared towards conflict management Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for”. Then the others crabbed Jesus and arrested him. One of the men with Jesus pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest’s servant “put away your sword” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands’ of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happened now?” (Mt. 26:47-54, NLB). Certainly, violence, to quote some early writers, is the practice of politics by other means, and even the author “Mao” virtually stressed the ethics of peace in politics. By and large, the end of violence varies from one society to another. Violence in political contest involves peaceful demonstrations, writing in the papers, writing in journals to criticize the government. The kind you witness where people burnt houses, kill themselves, certainly are uncalled for because it will not augur well for the development of democracy in any society and for the image too. In my series on, “God is a Politician – Godly Politics and Politicians”, I stressed that God is politician, and that God kind of politics is void of bitterness, violence, thuggery, rigging of elections, and assassination or threatening the life of opponents in elections. Godly politicians are God-fearing politicians who in seeking for elective post in democracy do so in the fear of God without resorting to violence, thuggery, intimidation and killings. Godly politicians, believes that it is God who elevates and puts people into position (Ps. 75:6-7) hence they do not need to fight, kill, intimidate or use thugs to harass opponent to get into elective position. But Satan does. Satan seeks to usurp and enthrone by violence. Satan is a father of violence politicians and politics. He started it in heaven (Rev. 12:7-9). As it was in the case of Satan and his cohorts in heaven, all those who use violence and practice bitterness, thuggery, killing, intimidation, rigging of elections as a means of enthroning themselves in power suffers defeat. As no throne or office is sustained by violence and bitterness. So also no one gets into office by violence and bitterness succeeds. Thrones or offices are sustained by righteousness. “A just king gives stability to his nation… only a stupid prince will oppress his people, but a king will have a long reign if he hates dishonesty and bribes... Those who plant seeds of injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will end” (Prov. 22:8, 28:16, 29:4, NLB). Godless politicians like Satan intimidates, issue threats on political and perceived opponents, use thugs and violence as against biblical injunction that says: “Do anyone of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with other. The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, his ears are open to their cries for help” (Ps. 34:12-15, NLB). Furthermore, the Bible exhorts that we should live in harmony. It is a life of peace that pleases God. And other people will approve of you, too, (Rom. 14: 17-20). Recently at national level, mayhem, violence, thuggery and politically inspired violence and killings has characterized our body polity. Some has encouraged and taken to violence in the name of religion. The truth that none of the religions encourages violence. God condemns violence and violent persons. The Bible speaks: “The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates everyone who loves violence” (Ps. 11:5, NLB). “A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit: let no man stay him”. (Prov. 28:17). The Scriptures acknowledged that the city is full of crime and violence, which leads to God’s judgment and captivity (Ezek. 7: 23).Hence, God exhort “do violence to no man” (Luke 3:14). For “evil shall hunt the violent man to over throw him” (Ps. 140: 11). Condemning the siege and onslaught of violence in our body polity, Prof. Wole Soyinka writes: “Enough is enough! Mamuda Shinkafi and all who think like him must remember the saying that those who live by sword shall perish by the sword. These bigots have resolved to unleash a cycle of terror, which routinely breeds counter terror. Shinkafi and his collaborators wish to cow a hundred million people by the now explicit threat of their capacity to issue death warrants at will and summon the mindless, brain washed hordes to an endless orgy of blood and mutilations”. He further exclaimed “upstart politicians and presumptuous cleric should not be allowed to use their positions as base for the undermining of the constitution that binds us together. The age of intolerance, of bigotry, of rule by terror is being inaugurated before our eyes and we pretend that all is normal within the nation. We have not thrown of the shackles of colonialism or dislodged the iron grip of military dictatorship to succumb now to theocratic insolence. Obasanjo must call a halt to this provocation before the nation is set on fire”. The media report that over 250 dead bodies were picked from the streets of Kaduna mayhem and violent riot that occurred few days ago. Has these violent killing helped our political aspirants? Has it brought democracy’s dividends to the downtrodden? Look what it has done to our image as a people. Scheming, bitterness in any form and violence does not in any way help the cause of achieving our political aspirations nor solve our problems. Like Senator Abraham Adesanya once said, “it is a test of responsible leadership to ensure that differences do not blow out of proportions into becoming political hostilities. We, the leaders, have the responsibility to ensure that we understand these differences, that we explain these differences to our people and that we seek to explore all possible means to ensure that these differences do not tear us apart”. We must not allow our differences, sentiments, ethnic and religious agenda to endanger our unity – living together. In Rivers State, like Emma Okah advocated in his, “Removing Bitterness from Rivers Politics”,we must play politics void of offense, hate and violence. We must make room for one another’s mistakes, weaknesses and shortcomings, and tolerate as advocated in the Bible (Eph. 4: 2-3, NLB). Because as Emma Okah rightly observed: “Those who watch Rivers politics wonder why they always destroy their sons whom they elect to lead them. The explanation lies in deep-seated ethnic sentiments and greed on the part of the elite who believe that any government not operating from their bedrooms must be harassed out office. In comparative terms, Odili more than any other before him has a broad view of governance. He is forward working and believes that the governance of people has become more embracing. He believes that it means not only materially providing for the people but reorienting them towards appreciating national contacts and their attendant goodwill benefits and political impacts in the long run”. Because, “the task of nation building or even nurturing a state to greatness is not the responsibility of one man alone or the government. The people acting together, the elite, professionals, market women, students, labour, private sector, interest groups, the known and unknown owe a duty to make the society move forward”. We, the politicians must practice politics without bitterness and violence. There is nothing Christian about politics, when supposed religious leaders in politics encourage violence and uses threats, intimidation and thugs in seeking political office like the heathen do. As the Lord Jesus Christ says in the quoted scripture above, “put away your sword… those who use the sword will be killed by the sword” God has the ability to protect and advance the cause of his servant. You don’t use thugs, violence, mudsling, and bitterness and hate to seek political office. I exhort all politicians in the coming elections in 2015 should put away sword of violence, use of thugs, intimidation and such unwholesome practices in politics that undermines living in peace and harmony in our nation. I agreed with Declan Okpalaeke in his view on “the Victory of violence” that: “Some resistance must be shown by constituted authorities against people who apply force to bring government to its knees and get what they want therefrom”. Those who lost in their party primaries should not seek or encourage violence to seek redress rather follow due process in seeking redress. In a contest one must win. As yourself if it was you who won and the other contestant resort to violence to undermine your candidacy. What will you do? Hence l appeal to all politicians, those politicians in the north who feel PDP zone has been breached, should eschew any thing that will encourage violence and undermine democracy. Because if we practice democracy as in western nations, no matter what internal arrangement in political parties, what is acceptable is an incumbent President is automatically adopted and no aspirant contest with a sitting President. Our nation is unique the situation that throw up the Presidency of Jonathan was not man made. Hence, reason should give way to tribal and religious sentiment and let us maintain the peace for there another day to become what God ordains to be in life. May l conclude this piece with advice from Former Governor of Kaduna State and Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, yesterday called on politicians to do everything possible to ensure peaceful elections come 2015. Said he, “We must not force our views and opinions on anybody, we can have different opinions and views about aspirants and candidates when they emerge, the best way is to go and canvass for votes from the people, if you win you celebrate peacefully, if you lose, you accept that you lost. If you have anything that you want to challenge, the Courts are there. “Everybody is free to challenge any position in a Court of law and whatever the Court decides, we must all accept it in the spirit of rule of law. So we should be lawful in the conduct of our political activities by obeying the laws of this country without rising the political temperature.“The youths must never allow themselves be used, they must shun violence, we must do our politicking in a very peaceful manner,” he said. Have question, you may call: 08033399821 or write: akpogena@yahoo. You are blessed for life. Stay Blessed. Dr. Lewis Akpogena, A Christian Devotional Writer/Minister, Education Management and Media Consultant write from Port Harcourt.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:43:33 +0000
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