Checking drug abuse and political violence among our youths

As the April 2011 general elections assume a feverish stage, unwholesome electioneering processes are being employed by politicians to tame their opponents and emerge victorious at the polls. One of such means is the widespread political violence occasioned by high profile thuggery in the country. Statistics of people killed and maimed and properties destroyed as […]

As the April 2011 general elections assume a feverish stage, unwholesome electioneering processes are being employed by politicians to tame their opponents and emerge victorious at the polls. One of such means is the widespread political violence occasioned by high profile thuggery in the country. Statistics of people killed and maimed and properties destroyed as a result of political violence are true testimonies. Unfortunately, this violence is being perpetrated by Nigerian youths, who are supposedly, the leaders of tomorrow. That these youths are being employed as the canon fodder by disgruntled and greedy politicians to visit mayhem on their opponents is axiomatic. Most of the kidnappings taking place across the country are executed by the youths. These youths are unfortunately, influenced by the lure of drugs and the lust for financial benefits.

It is clear that lack of mentoring has left the youths at the mercy of fate and ‘satanic’ godfathers who exploit the lapse to achieve their selfish goals, one of which is to incite the youths to participate in unleashing terror through electoral violence. Lack of this important aspect of our youth development – mentoring, is indeed another root cause of many of Nigeria’s woes, including cankerworm of electoral violence.

This electoral violence affects the entire credibility of the democratic system, human security and wanton destruction of properties. It also erodes the credibility of the rule of law and impact negatively in democratic activities. One of the consequences of youths involvement in electoral violence is legitimising and perpetuating the vicious circle of the existing culture of corruption of public office holders. They must secure the financial means by which they would finance another round of electoral violence to either maintain power or to force power shift. Therefore, as a result of electoral violence, the capacity of government to deliver social services like maintaining roads, providing electricity, water, schools and health systems, has drastically reduced or is even completely nonexistent or ineffective.

Apart from these, the youths themselves are being destroyed in three main ways, first, many are wounded and even killed in some of these violent acts. Available statistics show that for every young person killed through electoral violence, an estimated 20– 40 receive injuries requiringhospital treatment. In some cases, the ratio is even greater. Secondly, their future is negatively affected. Instead of being engaged in productive ventures that would prepare them for future leadership and productive adult lives, they are rather engaged in violent activities which destroy them. Again, by engaging in electoral violence, Nigerian youths are helping to erode confidence in the democratic system, which is supposed to help in grooming themto take over the mantle of leadership.

By destroying themselves and the system, the youths are costing Nigeria present and future credible leadership. There is a widening gap between ‘rebellious’ youths and adults, which is a bigger threat to the future leadership of the Nigerian state. This leads to the emergence of mediocre leadership in politics and government because honest, God fearing and credible leaders who can provide the required leadership are either destroyed or scared away from participating. In essence, the main objective of democracy and good governance is defeated.

While death, injury, displacement and property damage are the most obvious effects of electoral violence, the most widespread impact arguably relates to increased fear and heightened perceptions of insecurity among civilians. Massive internal displacement also occurs due to electoral violence. Electoral violence is also responsible for massive disruption of socio-economic activities across the country. Most victims of electoral violence lose their businesses to looting and their homes are often destroyed and many sink into poverty forever.

With the political campaigns going on, it is not uncommon to find majority of the youths offering themselves for these criminal practices indulge in the consumption of dangerous drugs to do the biddings of their masters. The abuse of alcohol is one of the potent causes of political violence amongst the youths. Youths who are either members of political parties or are hired to shore up support for particular party candidates, often swim in the destructive consequences of excessive alcoholic consumption. Hence one could notice that electioneering campaigns are characterized by reckless driving, use of abusive language, fighting and other crimes of varying magnitudes. Those who are not taking to alcohol find unholy solace in the consumption of harder drugs such as Indian hemp popularly called ‘marijuana’, ‘solution’ and other unimaginable substances with highier intoxication to prepare them for the dirty job.

Another disturbing trend now is the high rate of acid baths across the length and breadth of the country. Hapless citizens are being disfigured and even killed by their supposed loved ones through the use of acid. It is now a common sight at campaign grounds to see youths carrying cans of acid threatening to ‘waste’ any opponent who makes an ‘offensive’ comment against their candidate.

This therefore, calls for an aggressive crusade to fight drug abuse and its attendant consequences among the citizenry, particularly the youths who are the most vulnerable in the society. The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control(NAFDAC), the body statutorily charged with the responsibility of regulating the manufacture and use of drugs in the country has done a lot in the war against drug counterfeiting and abuse but it needs the support of every Nigerian to fight this important war against drugs and violence. Politicians are the biggest beneficiaries of the outcome of violence visited on the people by their recruits of ever willing youths. The current awareness campaign vigorously mounted by NAFDAC, has to be complemented by the political leaders, parties and other social groups that engage the services of the youths.

Most importantly, parents would have to show more interest in the activities of their children hence mentoring should be given priority attention.

By Juliet Obi is a Public Policy Analyst, Abuja