Desperate Politicians Rev Up Again
Recently the 21 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri recovered a cache of arms and ammunition which include General Purpose Machine guns, AK47 rifles, bags of bullets, explosives, rockets and catrdiges in an abandoned vehicle on the Maiduguri-Gandoru-Ngala road.
The recovery of these arms is another pointer to what is being planned for the April elections by desperate politicians who want to win elections at all costs.
Nigeria has lost quite a lot of citizens in this desperate race to outwit others and possibly outgun them as well. Yet, no culprit has been apprehended despite promises by the authorities and the police high command to fish out the perpetrators of violence and their accomplices.
The recovery of arms and ammunition all over the country, the politically-motivated killings, the assassination of perceived political opponents all point to one fact: There’s money to be made in government, and these dangerous individuals will do anything to be part of that government.
We cannot overemphasise the need to take another look at the constitution. Even if we are not going to convoke a Sovereign National Conference now, a review of the constitution with special reference to those parts that empower those in government to earn so much should be considered.
If senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can earn more than the President of the United States of America, the strongest nation in the world, then something is indeed very wrong somewhere.
The desperation reached another climax last week when an unknown group of persons planted a bomb where Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State was supposed to flag off his governorship campaign.
Not a few Nigerians have condemned the action, calling for decisive action to fish out these desperadoes and make them face the wrath of the law.
The deaths of Harry Marshall, Aminosaori Dikibo, Bola Ige, Dipo Dina, Funsho Williams and several other politicians on the eve of elections should show us we are currently sitting on a keg of gunpowder, and that some people would do anything, including killing their political opponents, just to assume a position.
The seeming helplessness of the security agencies is an indictment of the police authorities. We know if the matter concerned one of them or their families, the culprits would have been apprehended but their seeming complacency has always set them up for blame.
We need to do more than pray for fair elections. We need to beef up security all over the country. We can’t afford to continue to allow the desperate politicians to have their way.
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