By Nnanna Otu (Lagos Bureau Chief)
Lagos dropped several centuries of its civilization and modern state stature to hug the quintessential and prototypical Hobbesian state of nature where might is right and the strong make a mincemeat of the weak. Scenes from the WILD LIFE Television channel where the Lions, Hyenas and Big cats hunt down and make game of the weak and pious co-inhabitants of the forest aptly captures what Lagos looked like all through the period of the Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections on Saturday, 18th March 2023.
Political thugs, hoodlums and street urchins held sway and had a field day intimidating, terrorizing and in a couple of instances killing innocent citizens, whose only offense was that they came out to exercise their civic/constitutional responsibility of coming out on election day to vote for candidates of their choice.
As I monitored proceedings across the length and breadth of Lagos as a Domestic Observer, I was crest fallen. At a point, I felt very ashamed being a Nigerian. As early as 7.30am, even before voters began to troupe out, these hoodlums had taken over the streets in areas like Bariga, Ikotun, Isolo, Mushin, Ojo, Mangoro etc. repeating the exact words used by MC Oluomo a few days ago, openly warning residents who will not vote for APC candidates to prefer to stay back in their homes. These roughnecks went about their “Public Service Announcements” in several parts of Lagos metropolis unchallenged in a state where the State Commissioner of Police had assured residents, the previous day of adequate protection as the Command was ready and determined to deal with trouble makers. The action of the hoodlums and the inaction of the Law Enforcement Agencies was a perfect and classic depiction of a failed state.
It was indeed very obvious that no lessons were learnt from the shambolic events of presidential elections that took place on the 25th of February. Election Officials and Materials arrived late as usual in most Polling Units and now the big one, in some Polling Units Electoral Officers announced to bewildered voters awaiting accreditation that results will not be uploaded from the Polling Units real time as earlier promised by the INEC Chairman in the course of the build up to the elections. That was the first salvo that jolted the hitherto enthusiastic voters to the reality of what the day holds in stock for them. When asked why the change from BVAS electronic transmission as promised by INEC to manual collation once again, the Youth Corps INEC ad-hoc staff simply said that was the instruction given to them and moreover they were not given the BVAS Transmission Codes. At this point, tempers rose and I felt sorry and apprehensive of the safety of these innocent Corps members exposed to this manner of anger and disenchantment that had the potential of rapidly snowballing into violent protest. This announcement of the directive not to transmit the results real time from the Polling Unit was not an isolated case. Same announcement was repeated in several other Polling Units across Lagos Metropolis.
As interesting but intriguing drama took place at Victoria Garden City VGC at the beginning of the event. Residents of the Estate had set up Canopies in a large open space inside the Estate where they had always used for elections in previous polls, but just before the arrival of INEC officials and Polling Materials, some Area Boys (Hoodlums and Street Urchins) quickly set up another set of canopies outside the Estate manned Gate by the side of the Lekki-Epe Express Way and insisted that was where the voting by VGC residents will hold. The Residents said no! Because they realized how easy it will be for the hoodlums to dash in, grab Ballot Boxes and zoom off on the deserted Express way, but the Area Boys stood their grounds. When the Police Officers assigned to their Polling Units arrived, the residents approached them, explained the stalemate to them, after some enquires, they agreed with the residents that the elections be held inside the Estate. That was just about the time INEC officials arrived. When they were ushered into the Estate Gate, they instantly hit a reverse and left –according to them for further consultations with their superiors.
By midday on the Election Day, what was akin to a civil war had started in several parts of Lagos. Within my Area of accreditation, fighting broke out at Ijegun, Ikotun was on fire, Igondo was invaded by Ballot Box snatching Hoodlums, Ile Ewe was in a sorry state as Ballot Papers and Ballot Boxes were destroyed. The most bizarre of was at Egbe, where the Oba himself came out in full regalia, bestrode the arena like a colossus and personally turned back none Yoruba who had come out to vote. In some other Polling Units, Igbos were identified by stern looking Hoodlums and asked to go back. At Alagutan, Igbos who wasted time in heeding to the order of the Hoodlums to go back home were flogged by the Thugs. However, at Okota area, resident suspected they might be such invasion of their Polling area by thugs prepared very well for them, they came around with their Dogs, Clubs, Bottles and Machetes. As predicted, the Hoodlums arrived and they was mayhem. The Residents unleashed their dogs on them in a hot chase, joined in the pursuit and at the end one of the Hoodlums lost his life.
What took place in Lagos on the 18th of March, 2023 can never pass for an election. It was all sham and burlesque, slurring the image of Nigeria and casting us in the frame of a Failed State !
