POST ELECTION VIOLENCE & THE WAY FORWARD

"the audacity of violence comes with the intensity of the crime"


With the April elections having come and gone, what should have passed as a smooth, free, fair and credible elections was marred by violent protests in several part of the country. Within days thousands of people were displaced in Kaduna, Bauchi and Kano. Reports of isolated cases in states like Niger, Zamfara and Gombe. The victory of Goodluck Jonathan, over Muhammad Buhari, didn't go down well with most of the northern supporters who used the opportunity to unleash untold violence on unsuspecting citizens.  The ugly face of illiteracy once again raised its face as footages shown, clearly indicates the use of street thugs and urchins who have no understanding whatsoever the effects of their actions or why they are even being used to perpetrate such mayhem.
Ever since the April elections concluded, the perpetrators of the post election violence can be said to have gone scott free, as nothing has been done in way of investigations as to the roots of the problems. Not left out, the house of the CPC vice presidential candidate Pastor Tunde Bakare was also gutted by fire under mysterious and yet to be disclosed circumstances. Also the long list of NYSC Corp members who lost their lives and those who were maimed from several attacks during the post election violence.
Some of these actions go a long way in inciting unseen and uncalculated conflict as the hurt and anger felt by those who lost loved ones to the violence can only be appeased when justice is done.
Though four years to come, its about time the constitution makes provision for situations as these as regards to post election violence. Even more, with the knowledge of how this evil is being carried out as experienced once again in the April elections, a new strategy and measures that'll curtail and put in complete check the activities of those who sponsor and participate in such violence should be on the front burner as solutions are being proffered as to forestall a future occurrence.