On August 16, 1983, political hell was let loose in Ondo State, when supporters of Michael Adekunle Ajasin of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), and those of Akin Omoboriowo of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), unleashed carnage and destruction on one another, because of disagreement arising from the results of the Governorship Election in that state. Human beings were killed mercilessly and roasted alive like goats and chickens; some people would wonder how such massacre and destruction took place. It happened because the party in power, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was believed to have subverted the will of the people when its electoral umpire, then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) declared its candidate, winner of the gubernatorial election. That event and a couple of few other incidents of bloody clashes that took place in old Oyo, Ondo, Bendel, Imo, Kano States, among others, ended up determining the future of the nation’s nascent democratic experiment. There was a military incursion launched by current President and then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 1983. The military junta was quick to use the sad events as the reason for ending the four-year old second republic. The rest is history. Thirty seven years after the collapse of the second republic, one would think the nation has learnt its lesson. Thirty seven years in the life of a nation is no joke; it is enough time for a nation to transform itself for the better. Rather, and sad enough, in Nigeria nothing has changed in its democratic conduct.
In less than 48 hours from now, the good people of Edo State will be going to the poll, precisely on Saturday September 19, 2020 to elect a new Governor, who will hold the reins of power for the next four years.
As part of our professional, constitutional and social responsibility, we at Alltimepost.com are passionately calling on all Edolites, that ‘at a time like this’, it is most important to remain strong, focused, principled, with utmost sense of patriotism to not only exercise their franchise, but defend it for both present and future generation of democracy in Nigeria.
What is at stake is the future of Edo State and its good people; certainly not the parochial or diabolical interests of any individual or group of persons or the interest of any political party. What is at stake is good governance which is the hallmark of sustainable democracy.
We want to quickly cite two incredible galling historical episodes that occurred in Nigeria in 1962 and 1983 during the First and Second Republics respectively. These tragic events remain some of the worst incidents of mindless bloodletting ever in all of Nigeria’s attempts at democratic experiments.
On August 16, 1983, political hell was let loose in Ondo State, when supporters of Michael Adekunle Ajasin of the then Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), and those of Akin Omoboriowo of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), unleashed carnage and destruction on one another, because of disagreement arising from the results of the Governorship Election in that state.
Human beings were killed mercilessly and roasted alive like goats and chickens; some people would wonder how such massacre and destruction took place.
It happened because the party in power, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was believed to have subverted the will of the people when its electoral umpire, then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) declared its candidate, winner of the gubernatorial election.
That event and a couple of few other incidents of bloody clashes that took place in old Oyo, Ondo, Bendel, Imo, Kano States, among others, ended up determining the future of the nation’s nascent democratic experiment.
There was a military incursion launched by current President and then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 1983. The military junta was quick to use the sad events as the reason for ending the four-year old second republic.
The rest is history. Thirty seven years after the collapse of the second republic, one would think the nation has learnt its lesson. Thirty seven years in the life of a nation is no joke; it is enough time for a nation to transform itself for the better. Rather, and sad enough, in Nigeria nothing has changed in its democratic conduct.
For example, current breeding and arming of political thugs to inflict mayhem on law abiding citizens, shooting and snatching of ballot boxes at polling stations, massive rigging, and financial inducement of voters are all reminiscent or characteristic of the 1983 elections.
For those of us who are fortunate to live in the free world today, this has remained the source of our perpetual worry, disillusionment and cry.
Former military dictator who deposed a democratically elected government mostly for the reason above must do better, our political class and Nigerian citizens as a whole must do better.
It is also instructive to remember that earlier, during the First Republic, intractable political struggle between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Ladoke Akintola, both members of the then Action Group (AG), in 1962, led to what we now know in history as ‘Operation Wet e.’
Operation ‘Wet e’ means the setting ablaze of political opponents and their choice property, in the then Western Region of Nigeria. The power tussle between the duo led to disheartening and upsetting riots; human lives were cheaply lost and property of politicians extensively damaged, and in many cases, completely destroyed.
The unprecedented barbarity displayed by the political gladiators resulted in mindless killings and maiming of hundreds of individuals; That, among others, eventually led to the first military coup in Nigeria on January 15, 1966.
If we have learnt no lessons from the past, as well as from the unfortunate bloody experiences of other lands, then we have no business calling ourselves civilized or cultured people in Edo State, in particular and Nigeria in general.
Events of the past few weeks have demonstrated that all is certainly not well with Edo State, because of the absurd feverish crescendo politicking has descended into, as some major political actors and their foot soldiers have pitiably chosen to wear the ruthless toga of violence, destruction and insanity.
It is understandable that this is the first time that a sitting Governor would decamp with everything in his disposal in Edo State to an opposition political party in an election year; and this is the first time that former extreme political allies have become embittered foes; first time ever that a former two-time Governor, a ‘god father’ displaying ego, wants to prove a political point of removing a ‘god son’ and all the known ‘mighty political chess players’ are ‘going broke’ in the name of who becomes the next civilian Governor of Edo State. This is unequivocally a sad commentary.
It is regrettable to state that a state such as Edo, that has produced some of the best minds scattered all over the world, has rapidly acquired a sour reputation for political intolerance and rascality.
There is nothing in our culture that even remotely justifies the cynicism with which so tiny numbers of Edo citizens respond to the acts of lawlessness and wickedness.
Electoral brigandage is not the answer to or an alternative to participatory democracy.
Those who have decided to undermine the interest of the State, ignore the rule of law, ignore laid down security provisions, and want to use politics as a cover to perpetuate violence and carnage on September 19 2020, must be warned.
What we see is pseudo sense of vulnerability and invincibility on the part of some professional trouble-shooters and die-hard criminals, because , if we allow the attitude of ‘fight-to-finish’, to overtake our sense of reason, surely the impending holocaust, God forbid, will never discriminate in the distribution of its devastations.
As a people, we must not shatter to pieces, the massive hope of His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare ll of the Great Benin Kingdom, the British and American Governments; and other profound agents of peace and sustainable development in Nigeria, and in the Diaspora, who have displayed extraordinary concern about this Governorship Election.
We all must hasten to diffuse the present needless tension in the land; muscle flexing and the use of force can never be substituted for years of peace we have had.
We must never at a time like this allow Edo State to be consumed by the fire, which some wicked politicians, in conjunction with some social miscreants, want to ignite on September 19, 2020.
Must we walk into the field of genocide with our eyes open? Certainly, no.
Talking tough, should by now give way to soothing, friendly and reassuring words from politicians fielding candidates for this all-important election. Our social media must equally tread softly; fanning the embers of intolerance, manufacturing blackmail and outright lies will never do us any good collectively.
To the political cum grassroots mobilizers, you must ensure a free political voting environment, where everybody will be willing to participate without fear and intimidation. What gains are there for us to surrender the bodies of fellow politicians to the bullets of political assassins or property of our rivals to wanton destruction?
Who gains when Edo State continues to be politically embattled and embittered?
To the super rich politicians in our midst, as mortals, we must cultivate the attitude of peaceful co-existence and push our God-given blessings or resources in uniting and not dividing our people; building and not destroying bridges, leading and not misleading our folks and supporters, in laying of sustainable foundation for the present and the future democratic growth.
Finally, for the demented political thugs, life is but a burning candle, according to William Shakespeare. The one of a notorious criminal known as Terwase Akwaza, alias ‘Gana’ in Benue State, had just burnt out. That is life.
Certainly, no Edo man or responsible citizen of Nigeria will ever want a replica of ‘Operation Wet e’ of 1962 or the lunacy that occurred in especially Ondo and Oyo States in 1983.
Edo people, Nigerians, at a time like this, be warned!
Vote your conscience, vote for good governance; vote for democracy and let your votes count.
Long live Edo State, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
