We’re almost there, Nigerians! – Our Security, Our Peace By Prof. O.E Bassey 

While the process that might have hoisted him into such lofty position continues to be debated on the premise of the electoral body, INEC failing to live up to its promise and electoral precepts, the power to veto or annul the polls result lies not with any political party, political candidate or political-vested individual but with the courts of law, and that must be respected beyond emotions.

If anything, I admire the consensual stance of the aggrieved parties and candidates not to take the laws into their hands, and incite violence to the land. All political parties and candidates, not to mention political enthusiasts, have all begged for calm from their supporters while promising them to take the rightful yet peaceful action of seeking redress to their grievances in court. This has, by no small count, calmed frayed nerves and simmered down boiling hearts that have been rattled as a result of the feeling of being electorally robbed.

One can only hope on the last hope of man, the judiciary, to be ‘fair’ and ‘just’ in arbitrating the case to be brought before it in respect to the process of the election that produced our president-elect. It is so critical to the nation to be utterly focused on the onerous task of rebuilding its fallen and falling walls, such that the last thing its leadership should be distracted by is proving its legitimacy in power.

That said, the election cycle is one week away from being over till its next window in a full four-year cycle. The governorship election and state house of assemblies will take place across 31 states of the federation next Saturday, March 11th.

While the stakes are not as high as that which the presidency and the national assembly elections wield, the corollary of the presidential election and the intrigues it sprung up has set up what will be a ‘fierce’ governorship polls, especially in some spotlight states like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers and Abia.

Unlike in the past, there is a ramped-up interest from the Nigerian youths and older citizens to take to the polls and decide more incisively the fate of elections in the aforesaid states, riding on their dissatisfaction with the presidential polls and how it all panned out. The atmosphere is undoubtedly ominous with the pervasion of dissatisfaction towards INEC from the electorates. The implication is that people are more buoyed and motivated to ensure that this time around, they vote their choice regardless of intimidation or thuggery, while standing up undauntedly for their votes not to be compromised in the collation of results. In Lagos, it’s a slightly different ball game with the victory Peter Obi of the Labour Party recorded in a state touted to be a fortress of the ruling APC. The realization of victory in the presidential polls in the state has more than strengthen the conviction among the party supporters that it is possible to unseat the ruling party from the state, not to mention how achieving such result will be an indirect and partially fulfilling shot to get back at the centre.

The political plot is steamingly intriguing, one that makes next Saturday polls an heavyweight in the polity of the nation. If there are bodies who have their work cut out before, during and after the polls, it is INEC, plus the security agencies, who would have to deal with livid Nigerians more invested in ensuring there is a smoother, more peaceful and transparent process than the presidential and national assembly polls.

While INEC and the security agencies have said they are doing everything it takes to see that the polls achieve better outcomes, it must be mentioned that our collective job to be peaceful and civil during the polls is not done with. A truckload of kudos must be given to most citizens who came out to vote last weekend as despite being faced with flammable scenarios, people still held out for calm and ethics. That goes a long way to prove that Nigerians are a peaceful and scrupulous people who will bark at injustice and wag their tails at ethics.

Once more, regardless of how crossed we are with the electoral process, we have done the right thing to abdicate the case to the court to rule for justice; this time around, we need to continue on the same peaceful path by ensuring that when we go out on Saturday to cast our vote, we do that still respecting the peace of the land, and not taking the laws into our own hands. There are agencies, bodies and institutions readily available to protect us and give us justice when in a state or perceived state of compromise, we should never quit according to these bodies their roles while we play the ‘dutiful citizens’ for a ‘better nation’.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness – James 3:18

Professor Ofonime Emmanuel Bassey is a Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution coach with decades of experience in the practice and promotion of Law Enforcement, Peace and Security through the Nigeria Police and the United Nations.

He is a professor in Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution, a certified United Nation’s Trainer, and currently the Director of ICOF Institute of Leadership, Peace and Conflict Resolution in Africa.

Prof. Bassey has served and interacted at the top-level management of the Nigeria Police as well as internationally as a United Nation’s Monitor/Mentor in Kosovo, Europe.

With his marks well-established in Peace Leadership both in Nigeria and Africa, he is currently the President, NISSI Safety Management Institute: An Institute of Peace Leadership.

To his many humanitarian acts, he currently spearheads a campaign tagged “The Next Peace Leaders” billed to run from 2022-2023 with a target of training 37,000 young peace leaders.

For peace and security tips, consultations and trainings, reach him via:

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Mail: EmmanuelBassey@gmail.com