THE spate of violence that preceeded and occurred during, and after two of the three elections to be held has been quite significant but clearly not unprecedented. The novelty in the current orgy of violence, however, is located in the choice of dangerous weapons in the prosecution of this dastardly scheme. In the time past, deadly items used in perpetrating election violence were limited to clubs, knives, cutlasses and guns, but today, hand grenades and bombs are fast gaining currency. From Plateau State to Bauchi, Bornu, Niger, Benue, Osun, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Ogun states, scores of innocent citizens had been killed in election-related violence. On April 9, 2011, during the National Assembly election, some 39 persons were killed averaging over a person per state. That was the official figure. It is strongly believed that the actual statistics are much worse in terms of the number of deaths, the injured persons and value of property destroyed.ANOTHER round of violence has also erupted in some states in northern Nigeria after the declaration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the winner of the 2011 presidential election. Some misguided youths in that part of the country, reportedly visited mayhem on perceived opposition to the realisation of their preferred candidates presidential ambition. Information on the number of casualties and the extent of destruction of property are still sketchy, but the reported scope of the violence suggested a near collapse of law and order before the security agencies waded in to stem the dangerous tide. The crisis has reportedly taken sectarian dimension with grim implications for the security of the life and property of citizens having different political and religious persuasions from those of the rioters. The point being made is that several killings occurred in the post presidential election violence. The questions are; when will there be an end to political killings and whether or not the attainment of any politicians aspiration is indeed worth the blood of any innocent NigerianTHERE is still one more election to go, and unless deliberate efforts are made by the security agencies to pre-empt political violence, there may still be more killings. This is more so in some states where the incumbent governors are re-contesting or are attempting to foist their candidates on the people of their states. In such states, the remaining election is a zero sum game. It is a must win and may be considered imperative enough to kill for. The good thing is that the nations security agencies appear to be aware of these black spots and will do well to be very firm in pre-empting security breach in whatever form.THE general approach to reining in political violence has always come by way of sensitization of the public to the need to embrace decency and value reorientation in public service. Radio jingles and television advertisements on the evil of violence may not achieve much until the motivation for engaging in the ignoble act is addressed in a dispassionate manner. The truth is that there is so much attraction to public office in Nigeria. Quite often, ethnic, sectional and religious factors are pushed forward to underline political violence but in reality they are displayed to hoodwink unsuspecting hoodlums used as agents of destruction. The reward system in the public service arena is so juicy that those who have been privileged to hold public office do not like to relinquish their positions. Even persons who have never held public office, strive to get there because they find motivation in the stupendous opulence of their neighbours, friends and even relations who were, or, still are in public service.IN a country where it is pretty easy for scoundrels and persons who have not done anything meaningful for themselves, let alone the society, to muscle their way into public positions, and dislodging such people from office or preventing them from accessing power can hardly be a peaceful exercise. And since many of them have no pedigree and any reputation to protect, they spill blood at will in order to hold on to or gain access to power: the sure licence to public treasury and easy money. It may sound pedestrian but the motivation for election violence is firmly rooted in the significant economic gain that is present in the remuneration of public office holders. By the time the tendency for many public officers to engage in official corruption is added, it is evident that the stakes are quite high. The inspiration is not about service, it is about money. After all, no decent citizen with a genuine desire for service will want to kill or get killed in order to serve.CONSEQUENTLY, unless and until the reward system crafted for the politicians in the public service is adjusted in a way that reflects the socio-economic realities of the nation, political contests will continue to be regarded as a do-or-die enterprise. The cost of governance is intolerably huge. Most of the nations resources are expended in maintaining a few politicians and civil servants while about 70 per cent of the populace live in abject squalour. It should not be surprising, therefore, that contest to access power and come within the small bracket on whom most of the resources are spent is usually fierce and attended by bloodletting.CLEARLY, one of the major reforms that the Fifth Republic government to be ushered in May 29, 2011 will have to carry out is that of substantially reducing the remuneration of public office holders and rein in official corruption. That way, reduction in election spending by politicians and political killings will be a natural consequence. But time will tell if the government in waiting will recognise the imperative of this reform and muster the required courage to execute it.
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