Anambra election: The atmosphere of violence and tacit connivance of the elite

BY OBI TRICE CHUKWUEMEKA

Election is an exercise that ensures the continuation of democracy. It is an exercise performed to perpetuate the viability of a state and legitimise the actions of a regime. Therefore, it is fundamental that a democratic state conduct elections at stipulated times to keep the soul of democracy active and running. When this is not the case, and there is an attempt to scuttle the democratic precepts by non-state actors, it becomes an affront on the sovereignty of the state.

A group in the South East have insisted and are prepared to use violence to ensure that elections do not hold in Anambra. It’s no secret. We have seen them roam the streets amidst cheers, excitement and commendations by onlookers. They brandish scary little toys with an aim to cause further harm to institutions of state.

On social media, their voices are louder with threatening videos and audio messages – threatening to kill anyone who participates in the election and, oh yes, they oftentimes execute their threats. Owing to their sanguinary appetite, one hardly sees any branded vehicle in Anambra State nor find imprinted party clothings or souvenirs during this electioneering period. This group is constantly in search of politicians or anyone who looks like a politician and whom they waste no time killing – hence, most political paraphernalia are now subdued, even the Prado Jeep has given way for the Toyota Corolla where the politicians now hide. A small thing as seeing a political post on your Facebook or WhatsApp wall is enough to get one lethal shot.

As I write, there are areas in Anambra which borders Imo State that have been overran by this group. They have barricaded these locations and have declared it their Nation. I kid you not. A friend of mine, though without Visa, found himself at the border checkpoint of the “New Country” and was subjected to routine searches that required that he be unclad before he was allowed entrance!

What’s happening in the South East is elite conspiracy. A conspiracy of silence and politics. As Anambra go to the polls, politicians rather than take the bull by its horn and name those responsible for the violence in the South East, have sought political gains by accusing, for political expediency, other candidates in close competition with them as being responsible for these killings in a guile attempt to malign and defame.

The devil stares us in the face, but we rather look the other way and blame others.

The violence in the South East is not limited to Anambra, though the state has become the epicentre of violence because of increased political activities because of an election, which the group detests is about to hold there and therefore determined to scuttle it despite its pretences in the media. These are well documented. For anyone to now think otherwise is simply mischievousness taking too far.

The South East got here due to a conspiracy of silence. No one wanted to speak to the issues and when they do, they rather deflect rather than speak to the politics of hate and ethnic emotional extortionism that got us here. Rather than attack the issues, they try to live in denial of the worsening security trajectory and instead look for a political foe to malign. This is why we are in this present state in Anambra.

President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “in the long run, the most unpleasant truth is a safer companion than a pleasant falsehood”. The unpleasant truth is that, today some people are stoking the embers of hate, falsehood and destruction because it is politically convenient for them so to do. The peace and security of Anambra State is more important than the ambition of any individual. This is why all those hiding behind a veil to push a political narrative which they know is false must embark on a deep soul searching exercise.

It is time for Ndi Anambra to rise to the occasion and acknowledge the damage the activities of this group is causing, not just to Anambra State but to the South East in general. With that, we can then begin to speak out the truth more forcefully. Both the elite and the commoner; the political and the traditional institutions must break this conspiracy of silence as well as cease the campaign of falsehoods just to grab power.

In the end, we have only one Anambra State and if you help to burn down the state with falsehood or culpable silence, what then will be left for you to govern? Ashes!