There is a proverb that says those who stumble twice on the same stone deserve to break their necks. Nigeria fought a bitter 30-month civil war that claimed millions of lives and left the country torn apart and gasping for breath till today. One of the remote causes of that war—electoral fraud-related violence—is rearing its ugly head again in Nigeria, and people who are blind to history are busy stoking the fire.
The alleged massive rigging of the 1965 general election in the old Western Region by the party in power did not suddenly happen; it started with verbal warfare, which came to a head in the 1965 election. That electoral heist in the Western Region resulted in the killing and burning of people in what became known as “Operation Wetie”.
While anarchy reigned and politicians in power who caused it appeared helpless, soldiers decided to step in. The result was the January 15, 1966, military coup that snowballed into the civil war.
Today, a few months before the January 16, 2027, general election, which many see as an election like no other in the history of Nigeria, the verbal warfare, threats to lives, ethnic profiling, boasting, fraudulent scheming, etc., that preceded the 1965 election are here again.
Across the country, acidic political speeches by members of the political party in power, preaching and threatening violence, are rising like killer heat waves, and members of the opposition parties are equally threatening to match fire with fire. In other instances, some officials of the political party in power have issued threats to some leading opposition candidates, warning them not to come to some states to campaign.
Sadly, in all these, the law enforcement agencies have shown no interest in doing their jobs by arresting those people inciting violence. However, interestingly, when a supporter of the opposition party was seen in a viral video on social media with a rifle during a campaign, the police were quick to invite the person for questioning.
All these are similar to acts that led to the violent events of the 1960s in Nigeria.
The signs and omens are here again. Nigeria must not be allowed to tread that path again. Politicians must learn from history. No politician’s ambition is worth the blood of Nigerians. Secondly, politicians must remember that they are seeking office today because there is a country. If Nigeria is burnt to ashes, which country or office would politicians aspire to?
The police and other security agencies must be circumspect and exercise fairness to all, both members of the ruling political party and those of the opposition. Injustice breeds and triggers violence. The security agencies must understand that their allegiance is to the people and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and not to any political office-holder, because politicians come and go, but the country remains.
The Independent National Electoral Commission must truly be what it is constituted to be—an electoral umpire, and not a member of the party in power. Also, the judiciary, in the event of litigation arising from the election, must deliver justice. Injustice is the root of many violent conflicts. A word is enough for the wise.
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