Only election riggers condemn anti vote-snatching order

It is with shock that I condemn the call by some prominent politicians for the Nigerian Army to defy an order issued by its Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, which even a blind man could clearly see is aimed at enthronement a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria. Unless those voicing opposition to the order […]

It is with shock that I condemn the call by some prominent politicians for the Nigerian Army to defy an order issued by its Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, which even a blind man could clearly see is aimed at enthronement a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria.

Unless those voicing opposition to the order have a game-plan to get to power through the back door by rigging the election, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for anyone to worry about the presidential directive, provided all they want to do is to cast their vote lawfully, without disrupting the process.

The disturbing tendency on the part of some of our desperate politicians to disparage our institutions for political gains must be resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians. If you ask the armed forces to defy constituted authorities, what if one day it gets to your turn?

It is also deeply unfortunate that the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, a man whose mantra has been a professional army that is totally apolitical, is being dragged into unnecessary politics. From day one, Buratai has made it absolutely clear that the armed forces, under his name command, will remain apolitical and professional in the discharge of its duties.

General Buratai’s directives are well in order when viewed with a dispassionate mind, and within the context of the law, as the military, not just the army, cannot turn down a directive made by the President, who, constitutionally, is their Commander, and more so when that order is aimed at ensuring the credible election that Nigerians have been yearning for is entrenched.

President Buhari’s is not a shoot at sight order, similar to the one issued by then President Obasanjo on OPC. It is a call to caution, to scare away mischief makers who want to truncate our democracy through election rigging. It is an order aimed at making us look responsible and decent in the comity of nations. What this means is that once individuals or political parties do not plan to rig, they have no reason to bother about the call.

The Nigerian Army is a disciplined institution that knows what is right.  It has been protecting Nigeria for years now, and will not just turn its guns against innocent civilians. The President ought to be celebrated for this patriotic call. It means neither he nor his party plan to rig the election. And that is a new thing we all should applaud.

We, Nigerians, and even foreign observers, should appreciate the fact that the Nigerian Army is already overstretched, fighting to protect us in all fronts. And it cannot sit idly by and watch enemies of the country worsen its case by setting it on fire through their desperation to get to power by all means.

Everyone knows that ballot box snatching is a crime under the law and the security agencies have the power to arrest individuals or groups that engage in it. It will have been irresponsible for the authorities to do nothing when some desperadoes in our midst are hell-bent in scuttling our democracy through rigging and all sorts of malpractices.

If the Nigerian Army would refuse to wipe out a whole community, inspite of its obvious complicity in the recent killing of a major general, it means the institution is so orderly that it cannot just kill innocent, law-abiding citizens on Election Day or any other time.

Mairo Mohammed Mudi, Minna.