Boundaries of political extremism

Monday Column By Hameed M. Bello, PhD

hamdbelo@yahoo.co.uk

The general elections of February 25 and March 18 have come and gone, leaving behind some uneasy dust taking time to settle. For the Presidential election of February 25 specifically, a president-elect has emerged but not without disputation. Already, the legal fireworks have begun in earnest by candidates who lost out. They are determined to challenge the legitimacy of the process and the outcome at the tribunal. It is within their right to do so, since the law provides for it, as long as the approach is also within the allowance of the law. All candidates and parties ought to be treated justly and fairly so as to give more credibility and legitimacy to the elected leaders after the post election litigation would have been dealt with and resolved.
Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy on the basis of the rule of law. Accordingly, a democratic government is given legitimacy only by the processes laid down by the law. The law also prescribes how a government can either be enthroned, legitimized or delegitimized, and this does not include through violent means, mass action, social upheaval or acts of hooliganism or mayhem. It is only by established legal processes that an aggrieved party(ies) can seek redress from perceived infraction, injustice or disagreeable electoral conduct. Anything short of that could expose an individual(s) to the wrath of the state. This is the reason the election tribunal is in place to hear petitions, disagreements and malpractices that might have reflected on the result. The tribunal will in turn hear both parties or their counsels and deliver judgment on the merit of the submissions and defence by the litigants. Parties could also appeal the tribunal judgment at a higher court if they are still unsatisfied. These legal windows provided to seek relief are enough to address all post election grievances without further resort to extra judicial means or seek self help which can set up the individual(s) against the state or its agents.
Already, the first and second runners up in the presidential election, the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and that of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi have made their submissions to the tribunal praying for the cancellation of the results, conduct of fresh poll or urging the tribunal to declare them winners as the case may be. This is normal. The defence team will in turn make its own submission in reply to the allegations while the tribunal will examine the merits and demerits of both arguments and take a position.
It becomes worrisome when these laid down procedures are set aside in preference for extra legal means of seeking for power. Whenever the Department of State Services, DSS raises an alarm, it cannot be treated lightly because they have the intelligence network to know the political goings on. At least that we can tell from their antecedents.
The DSS had in a statement on Saturday, March 25 warned those it described as “desperate politicians” planning to cause violence in the country and advised them to desist forthwith in their own best interest. The Service said such politicians and their footsoldiers will regret such action if they defy the warning.
In the statement, DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya said that information available to the Service showed that desperate political leaders were planning to violently disrupt peace in the country.
“The Service hereby warns those desperate to cause a breakdown of law and order to desist from that,” and that the Service will not tolerate a situation where persons and/or groups take laws into their hands and champion anarchy.
“Those peddling fake news, hate speech and all forms of false narratives as basis to ignite violence or pit the people against the present or incoming administrations, at the Federal, State and Parliamentary levels, should stop forthwith.
“Those inciting violence have nothing to gain as doing so will not only consume them but also the innocent.
“It is otherwise disturbing to see respected personalities use their platforms to mislead or incite citizens.This, to say the least, does not augur well for peaceful coexistence and general order.
“Therefore, the Service will continue to take necessary measures to checkmate these elements who do not wish the country well.
“This is to ensure that the conducive environment is provided for citizens and residents to pursue their legitimate businesses.”
Dr. Afunanya recalled that the Service had earlier advised political players to abide by the rules of engagement as well as approach the courts for redress, if and where there are suspicions of infractions on extant electoral laws.
“It is evident that some aggrieved politicians are already taking advantage of this legal process. This, without doubt, is the beauty of democracy. It is strongly believed that this approach enhances peace and security.”
The DSS alarm is coming whent he Presidency has said that the preparation for handover of power to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect, Kashim Ibrahim Shettima is currently in top gear with all the handover committees working round the clock for the programme.
“The Transition Committee, made up of representatives of the outgoing administration and the incoming one, is meeting on an almost daily basis planning the handover to the Tinubu/Shettima administration.”
In a statement on March 24 reacting to news that President Muhammadu Buhari will not hand over to Tinubu on May 29, a Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu dismissed the news as fake.
Garba Shehu asked: “how can you vigorously campaign for somebody, vote for him and then say you won’t hand over to him? This beggars belief.”
According to him, thirteen committees as offshoots of the main committee, some, to arrange military drills and pulling out of President Buhari, are either all at work or soon to be.
“So far, everything is going very well and there is no indication of any hitches.”
Garba Shehu hinted that already the Daura community has begun their preparations to receive their son, President Buhari back, after the successful administration of the country for two terms of eight years.
“He, for his part, is eager to return home to enjoy his retirement.”
Recall that earlier last week, a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Team, Barrister Festus Keyamo had petitioned the DSS, accusing the presidential candidate and running mate of the Labour Party in the February 25 contest, Peter Obi and Datti Baba Ahmed respectively of alleged incitement and treasonable felony.
In a petition dated Thursday, March 23, 2023, addressed to the Director General of the DSS, Keyamo had accused the duo of Obi and Datti of making incendiary comments and claims capable of causing an insurrection and rebellion against the government of Nigeria and the duly elected President-elect. In his petition submitted in his personal capacity as a Nigerian, Keyamo urged the DSS to invite, interrogate and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals to court for their conducts, allegedly, which amount to incitement and treasonable felony.
The President-elect himself had reportedly expressed fears of alleged plans to truncate his swearing in on May 29. These series of allegations on the same subject is worrisome. This is the reason former President Goodluck Jonathan remains a political hero to a lot of people. His often repeated refrain that no politician’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian is memorable. Politicians should not conduct themselves in a manner that will endanger the lives of the same people they want to rule. Democracy is necessarily about majority rule – the minority will have their say while the majority will have their way. We have to tread cautiously to avoid actions that will put the society on fire. The contestatnts should remember the peace accord they had all assented to, to be peaceful and law abiding. The courts still remain the legal means for dispute resolution in a democracy.