Buhari’s ‘ruthless’ directive to security agencies – New Telegraph

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, opened another chapter in the history of the Nigerian democracy. He declared that he had directed security agencies to deal ruthlessly with anybody who attempted to snatch ballot boxes in the forthcoming elections. The president’s comment, coming two days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the presidential and National Assembly elections, took many Nigerians by surprise.
He made the statement at the caucus meeting of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), held in Abuja.
The president said: “Anybody who decide to snatch ballot boxes or lead thugs to disturb the process, may be, that will be the last unlawful action you will take. We have directed the military and other security agents to be ruthless.
“So, I want to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch ballot boxes or disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his own life.”
Since he made that statement, it has become an issue between the Presidency and APC on one side and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other free-minded Nigerians on the other.
We do not by any chance support anybody that intends to snatch ballot boxes or cause violence at any of the polling booths across the country. We believe, like in every other civilized clime that an election is not war by any measure. We also believe that elections should be free, fair and credible. By the same token, we expect INEC, the security agencies and even politicians to stick to the rules and allow the will of Nigerians to prevail, both at the national and state levels.
But we strongly object to the public comment of President Buhari on the issue of ballot box snatching. Much as we do not support violence and snatching of ballot boxes, we also do not subscribe to jungle justice, either from a civil mob or agents of government.
We do not doubt the powers of the president to give directives to security agencies on the conduct of elections, but we believe that directing such agents to deal ruthlessly with any ballot box snatcher is akin to endorsing jungle justice.
For one, there are provisions in the Electoral Act as amended on punishments for different electoral offences. There are also provisions in the country’s statute books on other violent crimes such as arson, armed robbery, treason, public disturbance, bribery, corruption and any crime anybody could think of in the society.
There is nowhere the laws prescribed that such offenders should be summarily shot by the security agencies, except in cases of self-defence or deaths that result because of use of reasonable force by the agencies.
For emphasis, Sections 128 and 129 of the Electoral Act (2010), as amended, were clear on the punishment for electoral offences, one of which is snatching of ballot boxes.
Section 129 (4) of the act prescribes a maximum of two years imprisonment for offenders. It states: “Any person who snatches or destroys any election material commits an offence and is liable on conviction to 24 months imprisonment.”
In Section 128, it states that: “Any person who at an election acts or incites others to act in a disorderly manner commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.”
Since the president’s comments, there have been varied opinions on the order, depending on which side of the divide the person stands. While the Presidency and cohorts of the president have maintained that his statement was in order, PDP and others have faulted the declaration, describing it as an endorsement of extra-judicial killing.
We are of the view that the president’s comment does not tally with democratic norms. His statement sounds like that of an army general than a president elected through the ballot. Even if he gave such orders to the security agencies, we believe it is quite un-presidential to utter such words publicly, when there is already tension all over the country.
We recall that in the run up to the 2007 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had brought in the do-or-die phrase into Nigeria’s electoral lexicon. That was roundly condemned by Nigerians as being un-presidential.
It is instructive to note that since Buhari’s statement, both the army and the police have keyed in, making tough statements on the issue of ballot box snatching. They have both promised to deal decisively with anybody that engaged in such act.
We object totally to such moves. We believe that it is akin to saying armed robbers be killed before taking them to court. It is also like stating that jungle justice should reign in the land.
We believe that the right thing to do is to take anybody that is caught through the law courts and mete out the right punishment to such a person on the point of law. Anything short of that is against democratic ethos.
We suggest that the president, being a figure that is looked upon by Nigerians as a fatherly figure, should be more circumspect in his utterances to preserve the democratic process. Such ruthless statements can only exacerbate the tension in the polity.