Please, permit me to begin by expressing my deep and sincere appreciation to all those who in various and diverse ways elected to be involved in the decision to “begin our future” and resculpt our ailing communion in a way that respects our shared value and appropriates ownership of our destiny to all of us.
From the outset, we set out fuelled by the realization that we are first Igala brethren before opting to be political party members (of our choice) and ideologues of our convictions or affiliations. We didn’t determine to foist or impose our thinking, beliefs or mannerisms on anyone while being open to those thinking, beliefs or mannerisms that are validly and verifiably superior to ours.
My decision was to engage in politics and not with politics of the despicable type, kind and caste that ensued on February 23, 2019. I hoped that ideas, offerings and discussions would guard, guide and measure all levels of our political interactions but, obviously, my thoughts were either out-of-sync or too futuristic.
I shall exercise utmost temperance in expressing my concerns just so that I don’t unwittingly encourage anyone to take laws in their hands. But, that said, I will not shy away from stating that what happened on February 23, 2019 was anything but an election and for want of a better description, it was a tragedy of monumental ramifications.
Guns and machetes were freely displayed and applied. Voting centres became haggling centres. The security authorities provided cover for people who should be in the gulag. Some INEC officials were forced to re-write results while others were just too willing for some money. Assurances of a safe return home for the few courageous voters was incumbent on allegiance to a particular Party. Unfortunately, some did not return home in one piece.
A case in hand is that of late Daniel Ihiene Usman who enthusiastically went to exercise his civic right to vote. Sensing danger he put a call to his father who insisted he stayed back to vote. Yes, he stayed back but did not vote and did not return to his parents alive. He was caught shot by bullets from the rifles of political thugs and their sponsors.
February 23, 2019 may have come and gone but wounds in the hearts and minds of everyone connected to Daniel Ihiene Usman would at best become glaring scars: The deceased was a 19yr old baccalaureate physicist who was sent to an early grave by political hooligans while exercising his maiden civic right to vote. With a sense of aggrieved victimhood that elicits resentment, discontent and a yearning for vengeance, one wonders if a vicious cycle has not been inadvertently established. Yet, there is this annoying collusion-of-silence apparently because Daniel Ihiene Usman was the child of a “nobody”.
This is one death too many and our docility and unfortunate acceptance of such bizarre and macabre stars-of-affairs relays a situation far worse than the harvest of deaths. Our nonchalance or muted (in)action is only a temporary stop-gap because if we don’t in one voice determine and act to stop these onslaughts, we would soon graduate from being onlookers/cowards to victims.
Strangely, the sponsors and perpetrators of these acts work free and further emboldened by their sponsors, threaten more harvest of deaths if perturbed by any “bloody, God-forsaken” Igala/Bassa (wo)man. We have seemingly become as helpless as cows in an abattoir waiting for the slaughter.
I’ve not and will never empower anyone with any weapon to either Instill fear, maim or kill anyone to ensure my political ascendency as I shall never be stained by the blood of those I desire to represent. I’ve been told that my stance is not in consonance with “today’s politics and politicking” and I’ve responded in unmistakable terms that, my desire is to institute developmental change, initiate an Igala renaissance and not concur or align with ways, acts or behaviors that destroy our very essence as humans and as Igala people.
To this end and in the light of the inconclusive Kogi-East Senatorial Election of 23/02/2019, I have resolved not be involved in the ensuing process until a panel of inquiry is set-up to probe the circumstances surrounding the death of Daniel Usman with a view to bringing his killer(s) and their sponsor(s) to book: In the least, Daniel deserves justice from a land and country he so loved as expressed in his last Facebook post, “Vote and not fight! Respect Yourself and stay out of trouble…. GOD BLESS NIGERIA”.
My advice to those of us who are politicians and candidates: if we must force ourselves on the electorates, it’s clear evidence we are not their choices and if we succeed in muscling our desires through illicit and illegitimate means, we are of all men the most wicked and wretched basking on ephemeral glory.
Because it was never about me, my desire to work and support any enterprise that would positively impact our sovereignty and communion is sacrosanct and would not abate on the altar of self, greed or personal/group interest.
Everything considered, two issues to ponder over and about: There comes a Pharaoh who does not know Moses and what becomes of the “used and dumped” who maimed, destroyed and killed in the name of politics.
The other issue is akin to the “Stockholm Syndrome” whereas victims we appear to be comfortable with our situation and would in fact fight to maintain status-quo.
These are not just rantings or musings but a call-to-order at the least. I must draw our attention to a story in which a mouse feeling bad and worried at the sight of a mousetrap bought by the lady of the house (apparently to kill the mouse which was feeding on her documents) in which it lives approached the chicken, the pig and the cow for advice on a preventive line of action; they all rebuffed stating clearly that it was none of their business since they do not leave indoors.
That night, the mousetrap caught something and the mother of the house happily went to see the wicked mouse but didn’t realize, the trap had caught the tail-end a snake. With the lights out, she got bitten severally before she knew it.
At the hospital, she needed some pepper soup, the chicken was the first victim. She did not improve as fast enough, the pig had to go to cater for her and visitors to the hospital.
The venom had done so much damage and there was nothing the doctors could do: The lady died. A Funeral was organized and the cow had to go.
The chicken, the pig and the cow who thought it was all about the indoor mouse fell victims of their indiscretions while the mouse was survived unscathed. I pray this is not the kind of paradox that would befall us.
In conclusion, I submit that election is not cut-throat combat and democracy is a process inclined to selling ones offering in a legitimate and best way possible. Brute force has no place in the democratic ecosystem since anyone forcibly converted is still of the same opinion. We must recognize the threat posed by this type of politics and address them headlong or else, we may stew in our inaction and insouciance.
– Victor Alewo Adoji
Senatorial Candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC),
Kogi East
