Words That Kill Democracy
By Olusegun Adeniyi If citizens of France, Italy, Belgium, Indonesia and numerous countries across Europe, Asia and South America can be so burdened by the rising cost of living that
In a recent wire report, Olusegun Adeniyi highlights the alarming threats of violence posed by political figures in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election. He notes that citizens in various countries across Europe, Asia, and South America have protested due to the rising cost of living, yet Nigerian leaders remain silent on practical solutions to the country's severe deprivation.
Adeniyi points out that the only solutions proposed are promises to restore the fuel subsidy or refrain from returning Nigeria to a state of subservience to Egypt. Furthermore, the focus has shifted towards threats of violence if the election results do not align with certain expectations. State commissioners have vowed to cut off fingers of individuals who do not support their chosen candidates, while one governor warned of a return to the brutal political violence known as "Operation Wetie."
Even the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, speaking from London, confessed that most Nigerians resort to borrowing money to feed themselves, yet a state party chairman threatened to kill anyone who obstructs the incumbent president's re-election by manufacturing fraudulent votes. The most egregious threat came from Ovie Omo-Agege, a former Deputy Senate President and lawyer, who vowed that those who rig the election would be killed, and that there would be no courts to intervene in the outcome.
Adeniyi emphasizes that Omo-Agege's words are not mere rhetoric, but a direct invitation to anarchy. He argues that justice should be sought through the courts, and that extrajudicial killing is a crime. The former Deputy Senate President's history of a violent incident in 2018, where armed men stormed the Senate chamber and removed the mace, further highlights the potential danger of his rhetoric.
Adeniyi also notes the irony of Omo-Agege's sudden shift towards advocating for "integrity" and "accountability" after losing the ruling party's senatorial ticket. He questions whether his passion for clean elections is genuine or merely a result of opportunism. The article concludes by suggesting that voters should consider whether Omo-Agege's call to violence is a principled stance or a product of his changing political allegiance.
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