By Samuel Ogude (Warri)
Billboards are signposts made for the purpose of advertising of one thing or the other. It is used to create awareness of the presence or availability of a product(s) to the public and intending buyers or patronizes of such a product(s). This is why in Commerce, Billboards are very important. The patronage that is experienced in products sales much depends, to a large extent, how that product is advertised. In politics, the candidate vying for a particular political office showcases himself or herself through Billboards, Posters, among others. The Billboards reveal his or her face and to some extent, the benefits the electorate stand to enjoy when he or she is voted into power. This accounts for why Posters, Billboards are erected in different and strategic positions for the electorate to see the faces of those vying for different offices and have a choice whom to vote for during elections.
But in Nigeria in general and Delta State in particular, it has been a common phenomenon to see that political opponents’ loyalists embark on the destruction of Billboards. Because political offices are seen as oil wells where millions of money are stolen in Nigeria, election has become a do or die affair. Many politicians seeking political offices want to occupy the office by all means, if not, why destroying opponent’s Billboards?
Destroying political opponent’s Billboards is a sign of self defeat and shows that the candidate whose Billboards are destroyed have upper hand and chances of winning the elections. Little wonder, when a candidate contesting for Delta South Senatorial Districts, on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP), Commodore Omatseye Nesiama(rtd) got wind of how some of his Billboards were destroyed in the state, he said:”…destruction of banners by adversaries or not will not affect us and our followers in any way. Truth is that, at this stage, we can actually do without the banners. The Commodore of Hope’s message of renewed hope is already engraved in the hearts and minds of people who are now disciples of same message and working to gain more following day by day…”
The destruction of Billboards of political opponents will not in any way affect the candidate’s chances of victory at the polls as the electorate having been deceived severally in the past political dispensations, have become wise. Many have made up their minds who to vote for come 2023 gubernatorial elections. The destruction of Billboards has no gains but capable of sparkling off political violence. How? The political parties’ loyalists whose campaign Billboards are destroyed can retaliate and this of course, can snowball into open confrontation especially when the person is caught in the process as nobody has the monopoly of violence. The result of such confrontation is bloodshed and lost of lives. This is why, when Delta State APC Campaign Organization observed that their Principal, Senator Ovie Omo-Age’s Billboards positioned in different areas the state were allegedly destroyed by PDP loyalists, the leadership of the group who spoke through the Director, Communications and Media Strategy, Ima Niboro said:”
This is not the first time our billboards are destroyed, defaced or damaged. But on each occasion, our Campaign Organization replaced them. However, they must realize that nobody has the monopoly of violence… they must run a clean campaign, one that is issue- based and constructively engaging and refrain from acts capable of breaching public peace..”
For those who specialize on this act of Billboards destruction don’t know its legal implications. Every candidate has the right to display his or her Billboards in strategic positions especially his or her Constituency so long it has been approved by the relevant authority or body. This is why any person or group of persons caught in this nefarious activity can be arrested by Police and prosecuted. On this, the leadership of Delta APC Campaign Organization said:”.. the security agency to bring to book those behind the destruction of its billboards erected at some strategic locations … in Okpe Local Government Area of the state. If Nigeria must have peaceful atmosphere and the right persons in all levels of government, the destruction of Billboards will not help but hit up the Polity and Mar the entire electioneering processes.