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The Nigerian Army Called For Election Duties? By A. Mohammed Bashir Shuwa Leeds Uk abashirshuwa@yahoo.com Nigeria has a peculiar way of doing things and when the army authorities recently announced that they are suspending all operational activities to prepare for election duties ones thoughts went into the last general election and how the army was used to rig the election in several states of the federation. So is this another call on the army to ensure their C in C's men retain power at all cost which literally translates into a coup against the people of Nigeria? The Nigerian army should not have any role to play in election duties which is purely a civilian affair. People should not be intimidated and there must not be use of force by any means during the conduct of elections. However because the government is bent on rigging the election it is putting all in its arsenals to ensure that its preferred candidates are returned as winners by hook or crook hence the proposed use of the armed forces and mobile police force to intimidate voters. The use of force by government to get voters away from election centers is therefore viewed as a major threat to our democracy and so the nation must rise against such practice so people can freely choose those they want to entrust with authority to govern. Nigerians are peace loving people and would not want gun totting security personnel patrolling their streets in the name of ensuring law and order at election times when in the real situation the same cannot be said to have been ensured for the safeguard of peoples lives and properties in normal times. The whole world is watching as events unfold in Nigeria and current security situation leading to the next general elections does not show that people will be given the free will to get together and aspire for leadership. The spate of organised brigandage against opposition party members and the selected elimination of political opponents will definitely boomerang as the hands of the authorities are always clearly visible in most of these criminal activities. The increased incidents of politically motivated murders in Plateau and some other states as well as the thuggery activities of 'hoodlums' in disguise ( sponsored by government) who disrupted a political meeting in Cross Rivers state recently are all a clear sign post of what is expected to happen when political campaigns come full swing. It is therefore necessary for all true democrats to sound a note of early warning on the dangers ahead and take steps to curtail such negative misconduct perpetrated by those at the helm of affairs who want to cling on to power at all cost. The degeneration of the political climate in Nigeria to the scale of high level insecurity is another basis for a tenure extension through the back door and findings by political analysts revealed that that script has been on the table as plan B of the third term proponents ever since and this has now started to manifest as we approach the end of the life of the present Nigerian administration. Little wonder then that soldiers using armoured tanks were drafted to guard political party secretariat just to show how powerful the party in power is. If PDP can deploy soldiers just to settle internal rift in their party then how safe are Nigerians who may want to safeguard their votes from rigging by these same persons who can deploy armed men against them? It is therefore necessary to take immediate steps to stop the president from abusing his powers as the commander in chief by using armed personnel to rig election. The constitution is very clear on how the army will be deployed for any assignment and the president must not call the army to any form of duty arbitrarily without approval of the national assembly. The state governors are also fond of abusing their roles as chief security officers of their states when it comes to facing opposition. Political opponents should not be viewed as perpetrators of crime but as alternative governments in waiting. Another cause of concern is the scare mongering and harassment of politicians by security personnel especially the EFCC which must be discontinued. If the EFCC establishes any wrong doing against any politician it must gather its evidence and prosecute such politician before a competent court so he can no longer be trusted with public office as ex convict. Otherwise any attempt by the EFCC to intimidate and blackmail politicians would not succeed since the courts are there for those who want to seek recourse against them if they are disqualified on the basis of EFCC'S recommendations. If a Nigerian who is standing trial for murder has been allowed to contest election into the senate from prison then there will be no justification for INEC to simply disqualify a candidate based on EFCC'S report since such report has not been adjudicated and established against the candidate. All that Nigerians want is a level playing field and any attempt to use force to rig the election will be defeated as Nigerians have become more politically conscious and mobilised. In view of the above all Nigerians must remain steadfast and be ready for national sacrifice as it is incumbent on all citizens to ensure that no one takes from them what rightfully belongs to all Nigerians. Any attempt to steal the peoples mandate will be viewed as a coup against the people and also against the federal republic of Nigeria and for any soldier to take gun and disrupt an election is a treasonable offence no matter from whom the order is received. Abba Mohammed Bashir Shuwa |