Insecurity: Threat to 2023 polls
The raging insecurity threat on all fronts of the country leave one to wonder if the forthcoming election would hold. In 2015, the worse that happened was the postponement of the general elections by weeks. Today, the tempo of attacks however the colorations become worrisome.
Despite frequently echoed assurance from president Muhammadu Buhari and the service chiefs that there is no cause for alarm over security threats to the 2023 elections, Nigerians are still worried about the spate of insecurity in the country.
This has been further heightened by the recent terror alerts from some foreign missions and high commissions, warning its citizens not to travel to Abuja and eight other states in the North.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that 242 polling units with 142,261 registered voters in 10 Councils of Katsina State were under serious security threat.
Reported attacks on politicians and their supporters in the current political dispensation, with the 2023 elections a few months away seem to have heighten the tempo.
On Wednesday, 9th November, the convoy of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), allegedly attacked in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Atiku’s campaign train was in Borno, a State dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The thugs vandalised vehicles in the convoy of Atiku at Ramat Square in Maiduguri, the State capital.
While Senator Dino Malaye, the spokesman of the Atiku Campaign, had alleged the attack was carried out by the ruling party, it is not yet clear who carried out the attack.
More than 70 people were said to have been hospitalised after the attack and the PDP has insisted that the “cowardly violent attack” on Atiku Abubakar’s campaign train in Maiduguri, was carried out by APC thugs.
Before yesterday’s attack on Atiku, reports had it that there have been such incidents across the country, where supporters of the leading candidates are attacked at one point or another either by hoodlums, hired thugs or supporters in the opposition.
Right after the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries and while he was still in a celebration mood, the convoy of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was reportedly attacked and the journalists covering his Lagos homecoming were the victims of that attack.
The police in Lagos arrested eight members of cult groups over the attack on the convoy of Tinubu.
One of them, Ramon Aniseoju said they were directed to stop the motorcade from getting to its final destination.
As it was then gathered, the journalists were attacked while returning from the Palace of Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu, where they had gone to cover Tinubu’s visit to the monarch.
The journalists involved were said to be those attached to the Lagos State Governor’s office. It was learnt that two journalists were injured while their bus was vandalised.
Their attackers were said to have stoned the bus conveying the journalists, while other weapons were also used to vandalise it
In a similar development, there was an attack on the supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and this time in Nasarawa State.
One of the supporters, Joshua Alamu was injured when unknown persons launched the attack while members of the Obidient movement organised a rally in support of the former Anambra State governor’s presidential ambition in Lafia.
Amidst all these realities, there is need for federal government to buckle up, tighten every loose ends to ensure the forthcoming presidential election come to light. Successful democratic transition can’t be overemphasized, because Nigerians yearn to cast their ballots for their preferred candidates.
In this regard, Nigerian NewsDirect urges the armed forces and respective security agencies to upscale their security attice.
Nigerians in return have to impose confidence on Nigeria Armed Forces, this will serve as a veritable morale booster.
