By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
Against the background of the attacks on political opponents and the destruction of banners by opponents’ loyalists in the campaign for 2023 general elections, a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department (HOD), Political Science, College of Education, Warri, Comrade Isitoah Ozoemene has cautioned against the election violence in any dimension saying, it would not lead the country on the path of progress. Comrade Ozoemene stated today in an interview with Bailout Magazine in his office, College of Education, Warri, Warri South Local Government Area Delta State.
He said, people are frustrated going by what happens on daily basis saying, the government of the day has frustrated Nigerians to such a limit that nobody thinks normally. He however said, notwithstanding, Nigerians cannot get the right person(s )in the government if there is violence. He said:”Many people are frustrated due to what goes on in Nigeria, look at flood, petroleum products, prices of foodstuffs, and all that, it is not the destruction of banners, bill –boards and snatching of ballot boxes that will solve Nigeria’s myriad problems. In fact, that would worsen them.”
Coamrade Ozoemene said by the provisions of the electoral laws, this time around, the votes would count adding, the wrong perceptions in the past where people say whether they vote or not, anybody would occupy the position is not going to be, this time around. He said a lot of people are saying, 2023 is the year of redemption and Nigerians would get it right this time around and people are being mobilized to that effect. According to him, the people who perpetuate this violence are those who have caused the politics of backwardness in the country adding, they are not comfortable that things would work well. He said:” The set of people who caused this political backwardness in the past have realized that this time around, Nigerians would get it right. They have come to know that they cannot steal ballot boxes so, what they now do is to destroy banners and cause mayhem to prevent people from coming out to vote”
Comrade Ozoemene said, those loyalists being used to cause violence are being foolish as the politicians who use them (to cause this mayhem) cannot use their children to commit same, saying, if Nigerians are not stupid and dumb, they ought not forget in hurry that lecturers went on strike for eight months and their children remain at home while the children of politicians are abroad graduating saying, when they come back, they are placed in positions to determine the affairs of the country. He added, that those who said Nigerians are to get it this time around, are not wrong, saying, what is important is for all to get his or her Permanent Voter’s Card(PVC) and vote for the right candidate come 2023 general elections. He reminded the politicians who use thugs to create problems to have their way into the office, would reap it because, a child who says his mother should not sleep, he, too, would not sleep.
Comrade Ozoemene said, many of those who perpetrate this evil should know that there are relevant laws that stipulate the appropriate punishment(s) for those caught in this crime. He said, the security agencies are supposed to arrest and prosecute these persons. He however said, many of the security agencies are not alive to their responsibilities as the bad eggs among them would not make it effective. He said, instead of prosecuting the suspect(s) in this case, they rather accept bribe and set them free. He added that, infact, the problems the country have today are caused by some of the security agencies especially the ones attached to politicians saying, in the course of guarding one politician, they bully on others, adding, that they forget that, the person being bullied on have the same right with politicians being guarded.
He said:”The security agencies are not helping matters, look at the banditry, armed robbery, and many more, in the bid to protect one politician, they bully on others forgetting that it is same right the politician being guarded, is the same right others have.” He said the law is built on equity, justice and accommodation adding, nobody is above the law. He therefore advised those who perpetuate electoral violence to stop forthwith as it would not help the growth of the country in anyway.