ANKELI EMMANUEL in this piece, takes a look at how Sokoto politicians were gradually arming and breeding future insurgents in the name of political thugs before the intervention of security agencies.
No doubt, the two major political parties in the state are culpable.
Thanks to the brevity of the security agencies who, on conjuring a mental picture of the route of violence undertaken by these hoodlums promptly acted in the right direction.
Though, the intervention, and recent arrest of seven notorious thugs in Sokoto by men of the Operation Python Dance 3 have seen to a near end of the inglorious act, it is however not yet Uhuru as these boys popularly referred to as ‘Area Boys’ still have their nocturnal meetings across the state.
Facsimile of the age long saying in Nigeria that any upsurge beyond 48 hours has tendency of government involvement, the reality of sudden sanity in Sokoto’s campaign outing gives credence to the assumption.
The major political parties in Sokoto, PDP and APC where hitherto embroiled in a seek and hide game with each of their gladiators pointing accusing fingers on who are the sponsors of the thugs. Despite, it remained an open secret in the eyes of all and sundry that these thugs enjoy financial and logistic supports from politicians in these parties.
Most shockingly is the fact that, some of the politicians went as far as providing utility vehicles for them while others made funds available for them just for the consumption of illicit drugs.
With the backing of these politicians, sales of illicit drugs, especially, Indian hemp, tramadol and other codeine cough related syrups became a near free for all business. Young boys and girls freely consume these drugs to the displeasure of many rationally minded individuals especially in campaign venues.
Most lovers of politics who would ordinarily want to visit and monitor political process in Sokoto state became disenchanted seeing how openly these thugs display all categories of weapons ranging from locally fabricated guns, arrows, spears, sword and daggers in political venues.
And more worrisome is the fact that, the security seems helpless from the onset. These thugs were sometimes being paid to unleash pains on people considered to be against their principals’ interest.
Sokoto’s conurbation was gradually but speedily becoming unsafe as some of these paid thugs “Area Boys” took their trade a bit further and began to snatch peoples bags, handsets and commit other crimes at will.
Like the sorting balm, the arrest of 7 hoodlums by men of the Nigeria army and subsequent recovery of some weapons from them sent a strong signal to both the boys and their sponsors hence the immediate stoppage of bringing and displaying weapons at campaign venues.
Even as the scenario seems to have significantly improved lately, the recent signing of peace accord by about 50 gubernatorial candidates in the state was described as a step in the right direction, if the tempo is to be sustained.
The event as jointly organized by International Republican Institute, (IRI), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and USAID was aimed at promoting peace before, during and after the general elections.
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Giving insight into the significance of the event, IRI Resident Programme Director, Mr Sentel Barnes said it will amongst other things, make political parties, and their candidates more responsive to the electorate.
Said Sentel, “Political parties are only responsive when they understand and incorporate citizens priorities into their policy agendas and also allow effective representatives when marginalized groups are integrated into their activities”.
Speaking earlier, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Dioceses and chairman of the occasion, Matthew Hassan Kukah said the tradition of signing peace accord ahead of elections was a commendable initiative whose mission is to ensure a sustained peaceful existence before and after any poll.
Kukah who affirmed that appending ones signature to such a vow and witness by many make it a moral burden with the potentials of discouraging political gladiators from instigating unacceptable acts, guarantee free, fair and credible election.
He further challenged political gladiators to have the fear of God by ensuring that they are only seeking to serve with the intent of making the society better and not to breed youths that will become a reason for discomfort of many, including themselves, families and loved ones in the near future.
Collaborating Bishop Kukah’s position, the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal maintained that no nation can develop without peace, just as he commended the initiators of the peace accord.
Tambuwal who warned politicians in the state against the dangers in breeding youths in the negative ways simply because of election, admonished those seeking leadership positions to be very passionate about positive future for the youths and not the other way round.
“If we, politicians encouraged youths to attacked innocent people, business environments, the society will be endangered
“I urged fellow contestants and other politicians not to use vulgar and inciting languages. And I also beg politicians not to consider election as do-or-die affair.
“The election is a process which have different stages and leadership is a destiny which Allah has destined to individuals He wishes”. Said Tambuwal
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Sokoto state, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, said the initiative was a good step in the rightdirection.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP shortly after the peace accord was signed, one of the Area Boys hitherto known for his notoriety said, he has come to realized that politicians are not worth dying for.
“Walahi, when I saw how they were hugging each other, laughing and shaking hands after signing the Peace Accord, I began to wonder if these people were really into any contest. I also asked myself, after one of the speakers told me at the end of the occasion that we should look around and point out one child belonging to any of these politicians”.
The Area Boy who preferred not to be named on print for fears of the unknown said, tears drop from his eyes, when somebody told him what these politicians pay to sent their wards abroad for study in a single semester.
“It was until then; I came to realize that, these politicians are truly selfish. They will give us 10,000 and 2 or 3 weeks training and call it life time empowerment when they spend millions of naira on their own children just to acquire western education abroad and come back tomorrow to lord over us again”.
