I read with cautious interest the report of a Nigerian newspaper that a Canadian court has declared the two big parties in Nigeria terrorist organisations.
Other Nigerian papers followed suit and it became a matter of debate in the country.
I’m not sure any foreign media reported the “news.”
What is a terrorist organisation?
A Google search defines a terrorist organisation as a group that uses violence or the threat of violence to instill fear and achieve political, religious, or ideological goals. This often involves targeting civilians and aims to coerce governments and societies to change their behavior. Canada’s Criminal Code defines “terrorist activity” as acts intended to intimidate the public or compel a government to act, often involving violence, property damage, or disruption of essential services.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police refers to the Criminal Code and defines terrorism as an act or omission committed:
a) In whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause.
b) With the intention of intimidating the public or segment thereof, with regard to its security, or to compel a government to do something or refrain from doing something.
c) With intent to cause serious violence to persons, property, critical infrastructure, or essential systems.
It goes on to list the types of terrorism as:
1) Religiously Motivated Violent Extremism
2) Politically Motivated Violent Extremism
3) Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism
Most countries in the West have something similar to the above.
Now, if we all agree that the world has become a village, then we should agree that people who care to are seeing what’s happening throughout the world. In any case, we exchange diplomats and we invite foreign observers to our elections.
I do not know of any election in Nigeria where there was no violence. The only one that comes into my memory is the June 12, 1993 election in which Abiola was elected. But, can we be serious if we say that election was violence-free?
Definitely, not!
With the maiming and killing that eventually took the life of the elected president in a dungeon!
Who can say he did not hear when a prominent oba was saying a certain tribe should either cast their votes for a certain party or risk perishing inside the lagoon?
What about the Iya Chukwudi story?
Who did not see the bloody happenings in Lagos in the last presidential elections?
Who is really demarketing Nigeria?
Who witnessed a situation where a musician tried to stop a plane with his hands? Was he disciplined? Did he have his day in court? Does the Nigerian government know if that had happened abroad, the man would have been arrested and arraigned before the courts?
Is Nigeria not a country in which the masses would be suffering and the big men would be going abroad to die?
I think it’s high time the government stopped shadowboxing!
