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Rallying Round Non-Violent Political Rallies Ahead of 2023 General Elections in Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

November 11, 2021

By Olumuyiwa A. Kehinde

Political rallies are essential parts of any electioneering, and 2022 will witness the commencement of numerous political rallies from different political parties.

However, the need to avoid violence, arson, and killings cannot be overemphasized. Political rallies could be described as the most funfair part of all electioneering activities as both old and young party stalwarts usually put their strength, agility, and creativity into it. Political rallies are also sure time for political parties to tell the electorates their manifestoes based on their political ideology.

As part of the ongoing writing series to appeal to all politicians in Nigeria to exercise caution about the 2023 general elections; I was fortunate to meet another young Nigerian who believes in doing everything timely and rightly against violence-free elections in 2023. Teju (his real name and he is in early thirties) studied political science but has shelved venturing into politics soon.

He was beclouded with fear of violence and killings that have consumed many souls, even at political rallies. After a few minutes that we had commenced conversing, I understood another reason that might have made him embrace political apathy.

I got more insight about this political phenomenon (i.e. Political rally) as Teju referred me to the preparation for the 2015 general elections, and it seemed some ugly incidents then justified his position to approve political apathy for now.

“For remembrance, I love politics right from higher institution”, Teju started. “I have participated in my political rallies before and am not interested in it anymore. We were from one political rally to another before the 2015 general elections. Everyone was in high spirits each time we went to a political rally until that fateful day- April 9, 2015, a rally was held in Oshodi, Lagos state in preparation for the governorship and House of Assembly elections of April 11. It was like a movie scene when many hoodlums started shooting into the air, and everyone scampered.

I took a refuge not so far from the venue just like many others. It seemed they had their target before coming because they shot at a man named Ebenezer Olakunle Oke on his left chest region, and another man, Olayemi Eniola, popularly called Esi Oluwo were accosted. I later heard that Oluwo was eventually murdered”. I could read his sad grimace, countenance and perplexity as regards such an incident but in addition to that, another friend who served as one of the party agents in Oshodi-Isholo constituency then mentioned that the said Oluwo and Ebenezer were targeted. He said that on October 30, 2021 (after 5 years Ebenezer was shot), his immediate brother, Emmanuel Oladimeji Oke was also shot and killed by the same suspected political hoodlums while returning home from a ceremony.

The main crime Ebenezer committed in 2015 might be linked to his agility and persuasiveness to lure other opposition party members to his own party.

The above narrations are not doubtful as I have also written and read about related issues that ushered in the 2019 general elections.

Notably, intelligence gathering and general policing against violence and killing during political rallies have not been taken very serious like those conducted for voting days. The recent Anambra governorship election has shown that hoodlums have targeted political rallies to even intimidate and scare the opposition party members and eliminate anyone who may stand on their way just as people have witnessed in the case of Olayemi Eniola, Ebenezer Olakunle Oke, Emmanuel Oladimeji Oke and many others.

Must killing and violence at political rallies continue without being checked? Should we fold arms and allow such events to happen at numerous rallies to be conducted for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria? While many may finger ineffective policing system in the country as the main cause, there are other factors that are essential for consideration.

Politicians for instance are number one solution-finders to this ugly incident. They should by now understand and admonish their party loyalists not to bother disrupting, maiming, or killing anyone in the name of vying for political positions as the electorates have power to choose their preferred candidates.

In addition to that, it is imperative to take political rallies seriously to avoid violence, killings and disruptions by informing the security agent ahead in order to ensure provision of adequate security at venue of each political rally. As the place of intelligence gathering ahead of each rally cannot be neglected in this case, the populace with credible information about issues relating to disruptions of political rallies, and violence in any form should also wade in and help the security agents.

All stakeholders in Nigerian politics, including the mass media, public and private organizations should begin to sensitize the public about the need to conduct violent-free political rallies as well as the general elections comes 2023.

He can be reached on writingsplendour247@gmail.com.

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Dikko And The New Vision Accountability and Development in Sports

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Felly Mammah N.

Since the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko assumed office on the 30th of October, 2024, he has systematically and deliberately been putting in place structures that would result to proper development of sports in Nigeria. Shortly after he was first appointed by President Bola Tinubu as a leading strength of sports, the Director General (DG), Hon. Bukola Olapade was appointed to compliment his efforts.

Many sports analysts believe that the duo of Dikko and Olapade who have been very visible in sports administration will be one of the best combination to take the sports sector to the next level. The DG no doubt, is the head of administration in the Commission, but it should be noted that the financial enablement to manage the affairs of staff and the political might that shops for the finance needed in the running of the sector rest on the Chairman who has the task of liaising with the President directly.

It is also, worthy to note that there is a huge difference between the administration of in the Civil Service as it is controlled by a Permanent Secretary and Directors while the administration of a Commission involves Board Members and experts whose voices and actions are also, game-changing; more so as Commissioners are likely going to take charge of the different zones to proffer solutions for a way forward. The defunct Ministry of Youths and Sports Development which later in 2023 metamorphosed into the Ministry of Sports Development on the assumption of President Bola Tinubu, produced a minister who was not versed in sports administration and as a result, faced mass criticism especially from men of the media.

These men of the pen profession are the torchlight of global sporting activity; they equally keep the history of both sports participation globally as well as the records of athletes’ performances. Their torchlight on past Minister’s and particularly the recent past, have revealed that most of the people who presided over sports administration do not really have any knowledge of the sector before their appointment.

The exit of the immediate past Minister, Sen. John Owan Enoh, refreshingly paved the way for change and this has brought in sports personnels that are expected to place sporting activities in the digital world. Suffice it to also, say that the new management of Sports Commission in parts of her changes is expected to sanitize athletes’ attitude and character for better reflection of children who have seen and communicated with their peers in the Western world.

However, the clarion call for President Tinubu to remove politics in sports may have changed the leadership of sports going by what many sports fans saw in the last outing of both Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, where a country like Nigeria did not measure up to her potentials.

Despite the poor performance of atheletes during the World Olympics Games, the past immediate past Minister deserves to be commended that during his tenure, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Games was reawakened as the participation of our Super Eagles brought back hope and jubilation to sports fans including the President and higher authorities. Yes whopping sum of N12 Billion was released two weeks to the Olympics Games and at a time the country was not financially stable. Despite the presidential financial support, the medals presented to the country were crisis and ignorant of both the atheletes, Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Atheletic Federaton to do the needful.

Therefore, it is heart-warming that the President harkened to the appeal of his fellow sports lovers to handpick a known figure in the sports arena to share his wealth of experience that gave him both a name in Sports and positions as the former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Chairman League Management Company (LMC), FIFA match Commissioner of significance, 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and presently, CAF Committee Member, in addition to his new portfolio as Chairman NSC.

My reference point here is that Alh. Dikko has been given the authority to effect positive change in sports sector, co-ordinate over 40 Sports Federations in the sector, welcome ideas of both sports stakeholders, individuals and veterans of sports that will enable him x-ray the reasons for poor performances in the sector and to chat a way forward for success story. There can never be a new testament without an old testament, thus the reason Alh. Dikko’s doors have remained opened to receive courtesy calls that included the visits by past administrators and foreigners who want to facilitate with whom the cap fits.

Still, in the mood of celebration to formally welcome Alh. Dikko to office was the peculiar power of sports which gathered momentum and the crowd for happy moments as seen in the recent novelty match organized by his friends, associates and sports veterans at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja recently. That gathering clearly announced not just a man who has made a name for himself at a height in global political decision making in sports circle, but a man who has also, given voice to our country’s leagues and international activities.

Sports is a significant sector that comprises emotion, tension, happiness, sadness even death and hope irrespective of the fact that it has the potential to feed many mouths. The sector cannot be compared to other Ministries with delayed bureaucracies and frustration of abilities. While in the civil service the head will rather submerge a growing talent for fear of power thrown, a coach who discovers a talent takes the credit for showcasing a star athelete discovered. Sports has been proven to generate revenue as well as attract public partnership which are all aimed at enhancing podium performance by the athletes.

Shehu Dikko’s business vision and wide participation in football contributed in making him the right candidate to place the sector in its expected level, increase the GDP of the country’s economy and equally be accountable with administrative roadmap for success.

The novelty match organised for him by his sports fans and League managers had the likes of Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Dominic Iorfa, Ahmed Musa in attendance to share their joy with him as they displayed their talent with their foot.
Others that graced the occasion were Super Sports General Manager, Felix Nwogu, former and present Chairmen of House Committee on Sports, NFF President, NOC members and persons from across the globe. That singular act indicated a clear fact that Dikko can actually gather momentum with persons that can support his ideology to deliver as charged by the presidency.

However, the Chairman’s meekness to open his doors to all does not mean weakness neither does it mean that he has not commenced work officially. His work is more of brain tasking because ideas actually rule the world. I will boldly say that he has resumed work with like minds that will not only be on the same page with him but will as well be on success Guinness Book with him.

Felly Mammah N.
Press Officer (NSC).

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