THE recent two elections were largely free and fair by international standards. That is the conclusion of independent observers from within and without Nigeria. For this, and notwithstanding the faulty start, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earns our commendation. Indeed, for the first time, men of high intellect who value their good name above material gains accepted to, and did serve, as electoral officers, thereby lending thereby respectability to the elections.Unfortunately, the killing, arson, and other forms of violent reaction in the northern part of the country to the result of the presidential election of April 16 is, to speak generally, a sad indicator of the intolerance that still dominates the heart and mind of many persons, high and low, within this polity. But specifically, that some of our politicians reacted hastily to an electoral process not in their favour but assessed as fair and credible by most independent observers puts a huge question mark on their temperament and sense of judgment; it also diminishes their qualification to lead our pluralistic country. Nigerians, anxious to get over with the elections and move on with their lives, are being subjected to politics with bitterness. This is wrong; it is unfair.In every electoral contest, there will be winners and losers, and there are judicial mechanisms for the dissatisfied to seek redress in line with the tenets of law. But where political anger is converted to ethnic and religious violence in a section of our country, then there is cause for worry and more. In the past few days, many parts of the North have been enveloped in an orgy of destruction in the course of which many have been murdered or maimed, places of worship and personal houses of both ordinary citizens and ranking politicians, and traditional rulers, including those of the vice-president and the Emir of Zaria, were burnt, business premises were vandalized. Many Nigerians, forced to flee from their homes and abandon their businesses have become refugees in their own country. Some states have been under curfew for days and others subjected to military patrols. Besides, elections have been shifted in some states thereby making the job of INEC even more difficult.We are disappointed that, for the umpteenth time, the nations security apparatus was caught napping - as usual, some are wont say. Over a period of several days, rampaging youths took over streets in such major towns as Kaduna, Minna, Bauchi, and Kano venting their ethno- religious anger disguised as political, on innocent citizens. What happened to intelligence gathering We feel constrained to say that Nigerias security agencies are not at all proactive in the performance of their duties with the consequence that tax-paying citizens often pay a high pricelife or property, or both - for this dereliction. The time has come for security personnel in charge of these jurisdictions to answer for these lapses that so often bring anguish on Nigerians and international contempt on our country.President Goodluck Jonathan, shocked by the ferocity and spread of the riots, has declared that enough is enough and ordered firm security measures to arrest the situation. These must be comprehensively and thoroughly implemented and the nation returned to normalcy before the April 26 elections. Nigeria has come thus far with a reasonable level of success and we must sustain the momentum to prove to ourselves, and to our friends abroad that yes, we can do it. The burden to prove this rests squarely on the political class. Our politicians must learn to think, speak, and act not like political jobbers but as statesmen seeking popular mandate to build - not to divide - a nation. Those who aspire to political leadership in this country must put the security of Nigeria and its people first. And be seen to do so. Beside patriotism, this is commonsensical because there, first, has to be a country and a people before anyone can lead them. In sum, what Nigeria needs now are politicians in the mould of statesmen, nothing less.The elections tomorrow, of governors and state legislators present a fresh opportunity to the politicians to prove their democratic credentials and their supporters to prove the popularity of their respective candidates. Nigerians will do their civic duty, as they have lately. The onus will fall on the political class to play by the rules and to abide by the popular will.In a previous broadcast to the nation, Dr. Jonathan stated his intention to act as the president of all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation. That is the statesmanlike attitude appropriate to govern a diverse Nigeria and we are in full support. Armed with a broad-based 59 percent and 22- million strong mandate, this president must go further to assemble a competent team willing and able to help him take this country to a level commensurate with its endowments. Now President Jonathan has every reason to prove that he can and we can.
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