Why do Africans, nay Nigerians, enjoy lawlessness, brigandage, thuggery? Why do Nigerians, especially our politicians, enjoy conflicts and unrest? Why do our politicians take delight in heating up the system? Why do they like arrogating powers they do not have to themselves? Why do they like parading about like tin gods? Why? Why? Why?
Questions and questions and more question all begging for answers. Nigeria has been destined to be a great nation and we shall get there. The journey to the Promised Land for the children of Israel was not an easy one, neither was it bread and butter nor a bed of roses but they made it.
I have been watching with grave concern at the manner in which the politicians had been behaving. They have displayed gross disregard for the laws of the land in their quest for political influence or power. With impunity they had acted not caring about the wishes of the electorate and the repercussion of their selfish acts.
The 2015 general elections was yet another platform were some politicians showed their naked lust for power. Though the election was a watershed for Nigeria, this group of desperate politicians acting with impunity thought it would be business as usual. Declaring results from elections that did not hold and installing themselves into offices they were not voted into.
But they were in for a big surprise; many were disappointed while in Akwa Ibom and Rivers State it was a case of stolen mandates. But with the change at the centre it meant the judiciary would do its job well which they did and the stolen mandates were thus recovered.
It is clear that the election in these two states was a sham, no elections were held yet governors emerged and were even sworn in- what a farce. The electorates in these states were denied of their civic rights, they were disenfranchised by self seeking politicians.
However all these came to a grinding halt at the courts were the elections were annulled. This is good for our democracy- nobody is above the law. INEC I am sure are ever ready to conduct a very credible and fair election in these states. The political parties involved as well as the aspirants should not see the elections as a do or die affair. They should do their home work well and eschew violence. Law abiding citizens should not be intimidated when they go out to cast their votes.
The lesson here is not about the annulment of the elections, but the fact that we should as a people guard the way we behave, we should be alive to our responsibilities and not act with gross disregard for the laws of the land. As Nigerians we should be concerned that the other parts of the world are making rapid advancements on all frontiers. Politicians should avoid rancor and play politics like we saw in Tanzania.
Those seeking political offices should know that if you force yourself into an office you are just like a man without a back bone.
. Effa writes from mikeeffa@yahoo.com.