[wysija_form id=”1″]March 11, 2015 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has said that only a free and fair election that can prevent post-election violence, adding that the use of military personnel to curb electoral violence is awkward in a democratic setting.
Fashola who spoke Tuesday night during a visit of Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Professor Chidi Odinkalu added that it will be difficult to prevent violence in the face of grave injustice.
“On pre-election, during and post-election violence, something has happened that we have failed to pay attention to. What is the most recent evidence of people snatching ballot boxes that we can reach to and what is the recent evidence of electoral failures? People been disenfranchised because electoral materials were not delivered to their polling units or vote cancellation; that is what has been largely prevalent.
“You cannot deny people access to justice and expect peace. No one who knows me will ascribe violence to me. But, when one begins to sow the seed of violence, I will warn the person. That doesn’t make me a violent person.
“The reasons for electoral violence was that people still don’t understand this is just a contest for service and that the ultimate decider are the electorate. Some have ignorantly ascribed it as a do or die affairs.
“Another cause was that electoral violence is a reaction to stimulus. A stimulus that suggests we will do what we like to get power. You can also do what you like to get yours. One of the things that I will demand for is to re-amend that provision of the law which states that electoral issues should be prosecuted within 180 days. If it takes four years, so be it. Let the wills of justice turn. This is because this provision gives people the tendencies to rig. You raised the stakes unduly. It is a one line amendment and it could be done. If this is done, tensions will certainly come down.”
The governor challenged the presidency to dissociate himself from all the negative adverts, advertorials, jingles and documentary being purportedly sponsored by the People’s democratic Party, saying his silence is tantamount to acceptance and can engender violence.
“I believe that until INEC issues notice, no one should campaign. But it wasn’t so since last year. There were several rallies held before the electoral umpire announces the date, to endorse the candidates. The kind of advertorial on candidates shows that the institutions saddled with the responsibilities of checking election messages aren’t doing their jobs.
“When certain people say that if the president doesn’t win the election, as if it was a coronation. And the president keeps quiet. The message the president is sending to Nigerians was that we are not safe. Everyone is entitled to contest.
” The president must come out and reassure Nigerians that this country will be safe whatever the outcome of the elections. That is his primary duty. And it is not enough to say it, it is important to act it. That was why all the commentators have said that the President say the right thing but his body languages does not say what he says.
“There are somethings he must come out and de-associate himself from especially his wife speech. He must disown them. And his leadership will be defined whether he does it himself convincingly or to ask his aid to say it.”
Earlier Odinkalu had informed the governor that Lagos being the commercial nerve centre of the country should be taken serious in terms of security, adding that if Lagos gets it wrong, the entire nation will be adversely affected.
“As a commission, one of the issues that worried us about this election is political violence. As a Nigeria voter, to see what is happening in our country’s politics must challenge all of us particularly our generation.
“And now it is our challenge to make democratic politics work. Lagos really is where it all begins for this country. For instance, consumption tax, Lagos provides over 60 percent of the tax. This is the industrial hub of the country and if we must diversify the country’s economy beyond oil, this is where it will start.
“A lot of people want to turn Lagos into something that we must all address responsibly. We have spent time at the commission trying to try political violence and hate speech. And both are happening at a worrisome level,” he said.
