Nigerian
Politics is surrounded by threats and pressurized dehumanization to death as a
result of aspirants struggling for political position in the country to the
detriment of their health and lives which is not important to them as politics
and quest for position prevails for the moment.
The
election period is a critical period in Nigerian politics as the aspiring
candidates dabbles into all sorts of gimmicks and tricks campaigning and
canvassing for vote; even to the extent of threatening the lives of Political
opponents. Before I proceed, one will ask: what is a threat? A threat is a
statement in which you tell somebody that you will punish or harm them,
especially if they do not do what you want. So this is what is governing
Nigerian politics. There are threats letters to some political opponent
contesting for election into one position or the other that says something like
“give up for that position or you pay
with your dear life” and also some others threats will say: “Declare this candidate a winner or lose
your position in that office”. The worst thing about some of these threat
letters is that, no identity. And you cannot trace those that send it. But it
due come with strong impression of upper class influence in the society.
Also
these threat letters is sometimes coming indirectly from the upper class
personalities in the society, who will not relent to serve the nation as watch dogs
that cease every political position to suit their whims and caprices. These threats
issue is never a thing to joke with; because sometimes it is the bourgeoisies (middle
class) personalities that receives and bears the burden secretly for their own
safety and security. But will Nigerians fold hand and watch corruption ravaging
from political arena to our economy? No, we must have to do something to stop political
threats.
Imagine
where the executive wings who are supposed to be receiving order from
legislative body is now sanctioning and commanding the duties of legislative
wings under threats sometimes. This is not Democracy, it is dictatorship. If Nigeria
is a democratically nation, then the executive should seek approval from both
house and not to sanction or give order. The duties of legislative remain the
watch dog of the nation by making rules and amending constitution to suit the
system. But the upper class citizens in the society have taken over their
duties indirectly. Instead of the electoral body which should absolutely independent
in decision making after election, are now influenced, manipulated, bribed and sometimes
intimidated beyond their powers to favor the executives and upper class
citizens to the detriment of Law makers and legislative who will always
promulgate punishable laws against offenders like impeachment of executives.
To
still sort out these issues of political threats, there is need for separation of
powers in Nigerian three arms of government for proper check and balances. The
legislative should be diligent to make laws and pass the laws after approval of
the executive body. Also the executive should monitor the law to see that it is
operational. Any appointment by executive must go through the legislative for approval
else it is against the law.
Finally,
the Judiciary which comprises the judges and courts of law must give
interpretation to these law made and executed by legislative and the executive
arms to be able to find out those guilty for breaking the law as well as free
those non guilty for keeping the law. Offenders should be prepared to face the
consequences of breaking the law while the security body like Nigerian Police
Force and Nigerian Civil Defense Corps are there to maintain peace and order in
the society.
With
proper coordination of these bodies through proper checks and balances, the
nation Nigeria can be secured from endemic corruption trying to turn Nigerian
politics in to a fraudulent Arena. Long live Nigerian Politics, Long lives
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Long lives the Nation of the world.
Written
by
ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD