Elections usually throw up all manner of characters and narratives onto the democratic arena. The governorship and House of Assembly elections slated for March 18, 2023, have heightened such diatribes. Some political thugs, ostensibly acting on the promptings of their paymasters, have been issuing threats against non-indigenes, especially Igbo, in Lagos. To such hoodlums, every electorate must vote for the ruling political party in Lagos or they shouldn’t bother coming out to exercise their franchise. This is the height of political rascality and irresponsibility.

The last presidential/National Assembly election was not different. In the run-up to the election, some political party supporters and members resorted to ethnic and religious bigotry to sell their candidates. Some engaged in unnecessary threats, harassment, intimidation and even attacks on perceived political opponents.

A certain Baale (traditional ruler) in Eti-Osa area of Lagos, for instance, called some non-indigenes to his palace and threatened that all residents must vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to guarantee their continued stay in his community. The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, made a similar threat in 2015. Then, he threatened the Igbo to vote for the then Governor Akinwumi Ambode or risk being thrown into the lagoon.

Even indigenes who do not support the party in power have suffered similar threats and attacks in the hands of hoodlums. In October last year, some miscreants attacked the campaign train of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor. Many people sustained injuries during the attack. Just last week, the campaign train of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was also attacked in Lagos. These attacks clearly contravene Section 91 (4) and 93(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Soon after the results of the February 25 presidential election were announced, some miscreants went on the rampage in Lagos. They attacked some markets populated mainly by the Igbo. This happened on Lagos Island, at Ikotun, Alaba, Computer Village, and Ilasamaja. Most recently, the Akere Spare Parts Market at Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos was set ablaze by some hoodlums. These threats and attacks are clearly against Section 92(5) of the Electoral Act, which partly states that a political party or candidate of any party shall not train or equip any person or group of persons for the purpose of using or displaying physical force or coercion in promoting political objectives or interests. They are also against the tenets of good democracy.

Related News

Essentially, election is the oxygen of any democracy. But, when people are not allowed to freely choose their leaders in a free and fair contest, democracy loses its appeal and is doomed to crumble. The First and Second Republics failed principally because of this type of problem. Then, military coups were in vogue. And people happily welcomed the military because democracy had failed them. For instance, the ‘Operation Wetie’ political crisis, which occurred in the defunct Western Region in the early 1960s and other factors precipitated the first military intervention in Nigerian politics. Today, coups are no longer fashionable anymore. But that does not mean that people will sit by and watch political opponents threaten them for no just cause. We must nip this dangerous trend in the bud before it degenerates to anarchy. The Lagos State government has a duty to move against all those making incendiary comments and threats against fellow citizens. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in particular, should come out forcefully and condemn this ugly situation. He should direct security agencies to track the culprits and bring them to book.

Security agencies, especially the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), should up their game. People who make these threats are not ghosts. There are videos showing the faces of some of them. Security operatives should arrest such people and prosecute them according to the laws of the land. Nigerian constitution is explicit about the rights and obligations of a citizen of Nigeria. And whoever is a bona fide citizen is free to live in any part of the country without molestation or threats of any sort.

We often condemn xenophobia in South Africa, but some of us commit worse crimes here against our fellow citizens. We should realise that the world has moved on. There should be no room for primordial sentiments in the 21st century Nigeria. If Rishi Sunak who is of Indian origin could become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, why can’t a Nigerian be free to vote in any state he resides in? If Barack Obama, who is of Kenyan descent, could become the President of the United States of America, why can’t a citizen of Kaduna State, for instance, contest governorship election in Akwa Ibom State if he resides and fulfils his obligations there? Lagos as a cosmopolitan city, a Yoruba state quite alright but home to people of diverse backgrounds. What should be uppermost in the minds of every Lagosian is how to promote harmony among these diverse people living in the state. 

We have been held down for too long by primordial sentiments. We must begin now to extricate ourselves from such bondage if we must move forward as a nation.