With the 2027 general elections fast approaching, Nigerians have expressed concern over the rising wave of attacks in many parts of the country and in Kaduna state, blaming security agencies and the Nigerian government for what they described as “total negligence of their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property of the people.”
In Kaduna State, particularly Southern Kaduna, incessant attacks by terrorists have continued, resulting in the loss of lives, abduction of many, and the displacement of thousands. This has raised serious concerns that many may be unable to exercise their franchise by electing candidates of their choice in the 2027 elections.
Govt not worried about insecurity – Asake
Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Kaduna State election, Mr. Jonathan Asake, in an exclusive chat with DAILY POST said that the present government cares little about the welfare of the people. He said it’s only preoccupied with strategizing on how to rig the elections and retain power.
According to him, “This present government is not thinking about how insecurity affects the people. If they were, they would be more serious in tackling insecurity in the state and the country as a whole. Looking back at areas that had insecurity, election results were returned from such areas, and nobody questioned them.
“That is the kind of society we are living in today. So, will it surprise you that no government official at any level is worried about insecurity? The people can continue to be killed, abducted, or displaced from their communities; it does not bother them because they have other ways of returning themselves to power. They are not warming up for elections; they are warming up to rig elections and return themselves to power.”
He lamented that elected representatives are not speaking up about the problems facing the people, adding that the situation in Kaduna State is so pathetic that ordinary citizens are finding life increasingly difficult.
According to him, “What do you say when we are moving towards a one-party system and other political parties are being frustrated? There is no beauty in democracy when people are forced into a particular political party. The beauty of democracy is to provide the people with options among different political parties and for elections to be free, fair, and credible, so that the people can make their choice.
“With the way we are moving towards a one-party system, I am sorry, our democracy is going to die out in a short time,” he opined.
They are being rewarded for their silence – Mark Jacob
A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kaduna State, Mark Jacob, told
DAILY POST that while the government claims there is absolute peace in the state, anyone who speaks out is often accused of being against the government.
He said, “We have representatives in the State House of Assembly and the National Assembly from the communities where these attacks are taking place daily. Their primary duty is to speak out on these issues, but they are not. Strangely, they are being rewarded with 4+4. I don’t understand how representatives who fail to represent their people and speak out for them can still be rewarded. I find it very difficult to understand.
“Those in political office today are not expecting any election. I don’t think they want to conduct any election. If they did, this is the year they should be up and doing. This is the year they are supposed to be at their best in ensuring peace in the state, particularly by providing security for all citizens, so that people will be free and available to participate in the elections.
“With the way attacks are ongoing and people are being killed, wounded, and displaced, it means nobody is preparing for any election.”
Jacob, a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that, given the current situation, what may happen next year may not be an election, but rather an appointment or endorsement, with those in power simply declaring themselves winners.
He argued that if the government was truly preparing for a credible election next year, it would ensure that the challenges of hunger, poverty, and insecurity facing the people were drastically reduced.
According to him, “The policy of this government is that nobody should talk about it. It is the body language of those holding political office. It is shocking that this should be the standard practice of the present government. The ambassadors of government are those holding political office, and if they have adopted a policy of silence, then we are not preparing for elections.
“Those in government know what to do, and security agencies know what to do. A situation where security personnel wait for an attack to occur before going after the attackers, or where security agencies give false information about rescuing abducted persons, is shameful. It is shameful that we are playing politics with the lives of Nigerians. How on earth can security agents claim they have rescued abducted persons, only for relatives of the victims to deny such claims?”
Govt must act now – Usman
A security expert, Mr. Salisu Usman, stated that many leaders care little about the welfare of the people. He told DAILY POST that the only thing politicians care about is doing everything possible to return to power in 2027, regardless of what ordinary citizens are going through.
According to him, “It shows the level of ignorance, especially in the northern part of the country, where people continue hailing those they believe are close to them, irrespective of what they stand to gain as a community. Politicians have understood their people, and as a result, those in power do not take anything seriously, thereby doing things as it pleases them.”
He stressed that the government must act urgently to ensure that ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to exercise their franchise and elect candidates of their choice.
He observed that government must be more responsive to the needs of the citizens by providing adequate security, enabling people to go about their normal activities and perform their civic duties.
The APC government has continued to insist that all security challenges are being tackled, and that the security of Nigerians is their top priority.
