Some appropriate steps for discouraging the use of money, an offensive statements against political opponents and the way forward in tackling political thuggery.
Political thuggery has become one of the major problems of democracy in Africa. Generally, the use of influencers such as money, drugs, and illicit weapons as campaign promises has made it the subject of greater concern in the build-up to general elections.
There is an urgent need for change from this narrative especially a change of attitude by political thugs who are often recruited and trained just for purposes of undertaking ill-will activities such as intimidation, harassment, abduction, assassination, maiming, and offensive statements on opposing political party members. Reasons are mere futuristic promises such as compensating them with payment of regular salaries on positions such as political Aids and Special Advisers as the case may be among others.
This suggests the reason why Political Thuggery is becoming an integral part of democratic elections in Africa and Nigeria. This further explained why political thuggery has become the “order of the day” since the advent of the fourth republic in 1999. The situation grew worse, especially during the 2003, 2007, and 2011 general elections; with only some improvement in 2015.
It is in principle that when political thugs have illicit arms of whatever kind, those arms are usually used for opponents’ intimidation and other political purposes. More worrisome is that after the use, the larger society receives the negative consequences of which even the politicians regret the actions after the elections. This comes to the fore especially when most of the thugs are abandoned after being used in the wrong way.
It is evident as their political fathers could no longer recover from them these illicit weapons. The worst part of it is that those thugs turned to their use for the prosecution of social and economic self’s survival crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, assassinations, and murder, among others. This is because they were already exposed to having money through violent action.
At this point, it is sufficient to say that Political thuggery is one of the most worrisome social problems of contemporary Nigerian society. Concern about the problem cuts across all sectors of the country, the general concerns about political thuggery is the surrounding crimes, especially violent and scary types including security threats that if left unchecked will degenerate into the breakdown of law and order and could lead to the destruction of the democratic process in Nigeria.
Violence is a major issue of concern, and the incidents could increase as election days are drawing nearer. Indeed, available Early Warning Reports are suggesting that violence will be a major issue of concern during the remaining period of the election process. During the campaigns so far, numerous violent incidents were reported which often involved the destruction of campaign materials, premeditated RTA as a result of drug influence as well as arsons on INEC buildings and party offices. There are also reports of harassment, intimidation, and violent clashes between party supporters. At times, there are some inflammatory speeches and indigenous referrals like “we are the sons of the soil or home boys”. These are triggers aggravating the tensions in the political atmosphere.
There is however hope on the horizon as it is never late for the Political parties, all candidates, and the voters to collectively rise with the determination of cleaning up the upcoming election process by discouraging sponsorships, recruitment, and use of thugs. The young, unemployed, uneducated, and drug barons and users can repent and shun the practice and drop the weapons. One of the surest ways is to be checking the mood and possessions of their followers each time they are taking up political campaigns. This will make the followers keep the right attitudes and manners all the time.
For our part, the Police are the lead agency since inaugurated the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). The Police Command had earlier convened Colloquium for all election security stakeholders during which a peace accord was reached with all the 18 political parties that are contesting elections. The event was also witnessed by INEC and all media representatives in the state.
Additionally, for increased knowledge and the level of understanding of members of the public on the Amended Electoral Act especially the penalties, the police Command approached the judiciary, NBA, Justice Ministry, and the Zonal Directorate of NBC and reminded them to step up sensitization programs on that direction. The Social Media Practitioners’ Association in the State was also consulted and discussions were held on the proper ways of utilizing social media platforms.
Afterward, the police rolled out public enlightenment jingles in partnership with the media houses. In addition to the above, y made appearances on live radio and TV programs to ensure that the public is enlightened on the consequences of political thuggery and other election-related offenses. In addition, the police command is escalating joint patrols and other collaborative efforts with ICCES members in the state toward reducing the menace of political thuggery and other related offenses.
We require more supports from all participants here as you’re critical stakeholders in this election’s security management especially the political parties, and all politicians. I still remind Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to do more as part of its mandate is to educate political followers on the adverse effects of electoral violence and thuggery in the State.
It is in this regard that the Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba recently summoned all the Police Strategic Commanders across the Country to reaffirm the mandate and responsibilities of the Force during this election’s critical period. It is in the same vein that the IGP directed all Commissioners of Police to liaise with the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners and the leaderships of all the political parties across the country to develop a mutually agreed campaigns timetable that will address all areas of possible conflicts in terms of date, time, and venue of their activities. It was accordingly emphasized that all security agencies, in the performance of this strategic responsibility, must be guided by the constitution of FRN, Electoral Act 2022, NBC codes, the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Personnel on Electoral Duty which was issued in 2020 by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
I hope that we shall keep joining ideas together to have a free, fair, credible and transparent, and non-violent electoral process and to collectively reduce the menace of political thuggery to the barest minimum.
Gumel, Sokoto state Commissioner of Police delivered this speech at a parley organised by NBC Zonal Directorate with Broadcasters in Sokoto on January 12, 2023
