by Isi Esene

The United States of America has expressed its opposition to threats of violence originating from highly placed political figures in the country as the Ekiti and Osun States elections draws nearer.

In a statement made public by Jeff Hawkins, the US Consul General, titled ‘Countering the crisis of credibility’, the US government wondered why elections are rendered incredible in the country warning against violence and breach of law.

According to Hawkins, “The sponsorship of violence and intimidation, and the rhetorical threat thereof, are utterly unacceptable in a democratic society, and need to be expunged once and for all from the Nigerian polity and discourse. The US has been deeply troubled by some of the rhetoric that has been thrown around in recent weeks and months as these elections have drawn closer. It is perfectly acceptable, and even praiseworthy, to seek to defend your vote and that of your fellow citizens who share your support for a particular candidate.”

He said it is not productive to threaten violence even if one perceives others as been guilty of misconduct adding that it is of no benefit to the quality democracy Nigeria aspires to attain.

“We were deeply troubled by the threat of “rig and roast” issued multiple times by a major political figure in recent weeks. Who benefits from that type of violent rhetoric, we wondered? And why would any ordinary Nigerian accept such provocative language, especially considering the history of post-election violence in Nigeria, and the truly horrific carnage that this country has been suffering at the hands of Boko Haram?” asked Hawkins.

The US diplomat was referring to a statement made by Sen. Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who delivered a speech during his investiture as Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, threatening that election riggers would be roasted.

Tinubu said, “No government that wants people’s votes will be doing what they are doing. They are already planning to rig the elections but be ready to protect your votes; nobody serves you freedom a la carte. It is going to be rig and roast.”

Hawkins, however, countered this reasoning saying if “a candidate believes an election is threatened, then that candidate should be doing everything possible to see that the rules of the game are enforced properly – by having party agents in the numerous locations where they are permitted, for example, to bear witness to what happens – or doesn’t happen. That is part of the painstaking work of participating in, and building, a democracy. Drawing on or threatening violence is an attempt to short-circuit that process for the benefit of a few, but to the detriment of many.”

The US Consul General lamented that no election had been generally accepted to be credible in the country except that of 1993, which the late Moshood Abiola won but was later rejected.