2023 General election : The need for political tolerance. By Besiru Enakhimion

Whenever the world cup or nations cup football competitions are close, the most discussed topic  in Nigeria is usually football . Even the media usually focus on the competition and discuss it regularly. In same vein, when the country's general elections are approaching like the one of 2023,  the most discussed topic usually is politics and the election. 

As Nigeria matches towards the 2023 general election right now, the most discussed issue in the country is the general election of 2023. 

As expected, Nigerians are already talking about the 2023 general election. Most people are already talking about candidates vying for different positions. Possibilities of victories of some of them at the election is already being talked about too. Choice of political parties and candidates are being made.

Ordinarily, elections are like examinations. In examinations some candidates succeed while some unfortunately fail.  In elections too, some candidates succeed in their aspirations while others fail. 

Elections are not means of causing wars. Like an Esan adage says,  "it is when people don't walk well that they end up trekking upon heaps  made for  planting of yams ". There are usually spaces between the heaps where people should pass through. Just like the case of the adage, there are glaring guidelines on how to execute election's. However, some people fail to follow the guidelines prescribed for the elections, this is why some  elections have resulted to political crisis. 

One of the factors that have caused anarchy in elections in the past, which is still capable of causing such unfortunate/ unfavorable incidents in the country is political intolerance ; Failure to recognize or accept the political views of other people.

In every election, in a democratic setting, like the case of Nigeria, there are usually multiple political parties. Each party has its own ideology and members. Nigerians or the electorates have the right to make their choice of parties and candidates, just as the Nigerian constitution recognizes freedom of Association. 

Unfortunately, some followers of political parties want every Nigerian to support their own parties and candidates . Such uncivilized people do not want to recognize or accept the political views of other people. Such politicians and their supporters are usually not happy to see any other person support any other party outside theirs. People who have political views that are contrary to theirs are seen and taken as enemies and treated that way.

Such people even attack  any perceived political opponent. At the last gubernatorial election in Osun state, a returning officer of the Peoples Democratic party ( PDP) was reported to have been killed by thugs allegedly loyal to another political party. Many Nigerians have lost their lives through this type of wicked act.

This piece was prompted by what this writer experienced on Saturday, the 23rd of July, 2022.. On the day in question, this writer boarded a UNIBEN shuttle from the University of Benin main gate to the Oba Ovbueramwem square in Benin City. While in the bus discussion on politics began. Some of the passengers in the bus and the driver supported one of the three most popular Presidential candidates in the 2023 general election. To that group, no body should mention the name of any other candidate in the bus. That group called every other candidate a thief. To them only their candidate is pure and qualified for the job. 

At the Uselu market axis of the Lagos-Benin road, one of the passengers disagreed with the driver's group . He mentioned his own choice of candidate and attempted to explain why his own choice of candidate should be voted for. Before he could complete his explanation, the driver and his group shouted at him for having a contrary opinion. They said he must not mention the name of his candidate  whom they claimed to be old and corrupt. The man insisted that his candidate is better. After all the verbal attacks on the man, the driver suddenly halted the bus and forced the man to alight from the bus, even when he had not got to his destination. The driver insisted that if the man didn't come down from the bus, he will not continue with the journey . After arguing for some minutes, some elderly passengers in the bus persuaded the man to step out and he actually left the bus. That was the height of political intolerance. A very crude and uncivilized reaction to political differences.  

Suppose the man that was forced to get out of the bus was a young and hot tempered man?  Suppose he had refused to come out of the bus? Suppose he had many supporters in the bus like the bus driver ? what would have been the result of such political intolerance ? The situation could have been terrible or devastating. 

Recently a disturbing video went viral. In the video was a man alleged to be one of the Bishops that attended the unveiling of the Vice Presidential candidate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The video shows the man being harassed and embarrassed by some youths. Some online reports stated that the man was later beaten up and injured.There are  also videos showing some youths destroying billboards and banners belonging to a political party in some states . That is insanity. Those sponsoring such actions are enemies of democracy and Nigeria. 

What if the political parties which are victims of such baberric action decide to sponsor a counter attack ? 

Unfortunately some  traditional, political and religious leaders with great influence have contributed so much to heating up the polity .  Some of the leaders are making utterances with divisive tendencies . It is not time for political campaigns, yet we have seen a lot of videos in the internet produced by some so called leaders of churches. There are some videos where pastors are campaigning, telling members of their congregations who they must vote for. There is a video of a woman who calls herself a woman of God, even laying causes on those she classified as spiritual leaders who might disagree with her stand and that of her group. 

In fact, recently, a pastor in one of the largest churches in the country declared that his church will only support any candidate that the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria ( PFN) and Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) direct them to support. That is bad. These pastors are not even helping such candidate that they are forcing on their congregation, because adherents of other religion can gang up  against the candidate they claim to be campaigning for. 

Some of the leaders are  stating that it is a candidate from their zone that must be voted for. What do such leaders want Nigerians from other zones to do, to fold their arms and not vote for a candidate from their own zones too? 

Traditional, political and religious leaders are opinion leaders who have much influence over their followers, it is therefore wrong for them to force their subjects or followers against their wish in terms of who they should vote for.  

In a democratic setting, the choice of candidates should be determined by capability to deliver the expected dividend  of democracy and not the faith.the candidate belong. If religious leaders continue to force their choice of a presidential candidate on members of their churches, meritocracy may be sacrificed for mediocrity. If that happens, Nigeria and Nigerians will suffer for it.

There are groups of people who call themselves youths, who have been boasting that  their choice of candidate must win the presidential election in 2023 ; that if he ( their choice) is not declared the winner of the Presidential election, an ugly revolution like the infamous EndSars will resurface. That statement is bad and unpatriotic..

It is the duty of the security agents to keep peace in the country. The security agents should endeavour to nip any political crisis in the bud to prevent it from escalating. For instance people found defacing or destroying political billboards and banners should be punished adequately to deter other hoodlums from such wicked act .

Political, religious and traditional leaders should preach peace and not division. 

One cannot really remember any case of those that have caused political crisis being punished in Nigeria.  It is only when offenders are punished by the law that others will desist from illegal or unlawful acts.

The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has always organized ceremonies for signing of peace accord for political parties and their candidates. Whether such exercises have yielded any benefit is another question. It is advised that the electoral umpire takes drastic actions against perpetrators of violence before, during and after elections. Such sanctions will deter others from any electoral related evil.

In all, it is very important for all stakeholders in the  general election for 2023 to work towards having a peaceful atmosphere where a peaceful election can take place. It is only in a peaceful environment that s credible election can take place. Those who witnessed the unfortunate situation of the EndSars protest can easily attest to the fact that a revolution of such destructive magnitude will not be conducive for election or development of the country.

All media stations should carry out campaigns condemning political crisis and political  intolerance . The need for a peaceful election should be stressed too.

By Besiru Enakhimion.

FIC, Benin City.