Political Assassinations And 2006ByZayyad I. Muhammadzaymohd@yahoo.comMany Nigerians received the coming of the year 2006 with great concern and trepidation, virtually all commentaries and newspapers editorials on the coming of the year 2006 laid strong concern on what awaits Nigerians on the polity; this is simply because 2006 would be chock-full of politicking and substantial partisan politics and the current political dimension in the country; where desperations, rigidity and vendetta has taken over fair play, listening and the accommodation of other people’s views, is the reason for these worries . Of recent, politically motivated killings and public unrest painted in religious or ethnic colors are two unpleasant occurrence that had blight Nigeria’s democracy since 2003, politically motivated murders and ethno- religious conflicts have been trailing our democracy and these have completely affected free flow of democratic ethics and negate the principles participatory democracy. Is the brutal killing of Sa’adatu Rimi a warning sign of the re-arrival of politically motivated killings? And, is it a testimony to the fears already allayed from many branches of the Nigerian society that 2006 would be gory? Real Nigerians most be seriously concern, because the political atmosphere that led to the assassination of people like Harry Marshal, A.K Dikibo, Bola Ige, Chuba Okhadigbo, and the ignition of ethno-religious conflicts generally believed to be handiwork of selfish politicians is far less tense as the current mood- the third term issue, where the campaigners are getting more desperate, the policy of an eye for an eye which Mahatma Gandhi said makes the world blind, the major crack in the PDP and the current state of; if you are loyal Someone, the loyalty to the apparatus of the State is discretionary. Political elites sometimes may not be directly involve in the assassination of their political opponents, but illiterate political thugs who every so often are employed to do the job of intimidating political opponents may some times cross the line to the extent of taking a life; thinking it would score a political point to their pay-masters. Though Politically motivated murders affects the elites especially politicians; but the malevolence behind it blot the entire polity; resulting in more thuggery and opening avenues for vandals and crooks taken over the political system; as fine gentlemen and women desert the political system. Genuine leaders never chew over employing assassinations or in flaming ethnic or religious difference among the populace just to achieve a political goal, it is the opinion of this writer that well-meaning Nigerians- lettered men, journalists, medical Doctors, the clergy, ulammas, successful business people; all good people from all fragmentation of our society should take the bull by the horn and venture into politics, this will bring some kind of esteem to the system and reduce unhealthy practices, but we shouldn’t forget that we have a political system that operates in isolation: a system that does not consider the masses and at the same time the masses does not know that they can control the system, simply the system is in a state of perpetual oscillation, we are in a situation where individuals who in a normal society cannot even dream of being in command of a hamlet, found themselves in important position of authority; this reminds one the story of a political science Doctor from one of Nigeria’s university in the central part of the country, who contested a councillorship position in a state in the north-eastern part of the country, but he was defeated hands down by someone who the Doctor simply call a mere motor park tout ; this indicates the difficulties fine people will encounter when they venture into politics because the mentally of the masses is highly adulterated. Three critical factors are needed for us to eliminate assassination, ethno-religious violence and thuggery in our politics, and these are: exceptional leadership, operational security structures and a well-catered society, but the latter two are only attainable when the first is present, but this has been eluding the Nigerian state; today we are witnessing a very humorous situation where people exhibit one colour when they are in the corridors of authority and another while not in power; people preaches democratic tenants but when given mantle of leadership turn out to be tyrant; people preaches one Nigeria while enjoying the fruits of government but when they fallout from government, turn to be ethnic or regional champions, we can go on and on given such examples, it can be simply put, people suffer complete character failure in their quest to gain cheap recognition, a s Abraham Lincoln put it “ … if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. That why this writer highly admires and have a high regard for to two individuals who have exhibited consistent and exemplarily character in the present democratic dispensation - despite the poverty and environmental degradation of his people and the flops that are characterizing the Nigerian state, Justice Niki Tobi stood by Nigeria in the just concluded national political conference, the Gentleman could have go for cheap recognition and stood under ethnic or regional umbrella, like wise vice president Atiku Abubakar, despite the pressure emanating from many angles, he stood for Nigeria at various occasion, being a politician he could have gone for regional or ethnic card to gain cheap popularity. The second factor is excellent policing, we most deviate from our current adhoc approach to policing our society, to using intelligence and effective communications and reorienting our security operatives, that safeguarding the nation extremely goes beyond the military dictatorial style of only giving prominence to regime protection; this writer is of the believe our security system so much relied on data in place of information, this is the reason for the failure of the system to be above board. The crucial and the most important factor is having a sound society; a society that is freed from the prison of poverty, unless the Nigerian people are a well- catered for, from all fabrics of living, assassinations, thuggery and ethno-religious conflicts will continue to trail our democracy because poverty and violence is a vicious circle.
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Nigeria |