The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), South East Zone, has expressed deep worry and sadness over the resort to violence and arson by some desperate politicians in the region as Nigeria inches closer to the general elections this year.

The latest development, the rights group observed, happened few days ago in Enugu State where “five campaign vehicles branded with pictures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and that of his running mate, Her Excellency, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, were set ablaze by yet-to-be identified hoodlums at the Tickles Centre, along Osadebe Street opposite WTC, Ogui, New Layout, Enugu.”

According to a statement from the Communications Directorate of the PDP in the state, the incident was not the first time such attack was visited on the campaign facilities of the party in the state.

Southeast CLO said in a statement issued on Tuesday in Onitsha signed the Chairman, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah: “The CLO is also aware of several reports of damaging and defacing of campaign billboards of party candidates among other smear campaigns going on in the state and some of other states in the south east.

In the same Enugu State, there have been cases of arson and burning of campaign offices, vehicles and other materials of a rival/factional APC candidate in the state.

“All these acts are to say the least, unacceptable and the CLO South East Zone unreservedly condemns this negative growing trend in the region.

“Prior to this electioneering period, Enugu State, we are aware, enjoys a prevailing atmosphere of peace engendered by the consultative and carry-along initiative of the incumbent Governor, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

“The prevailing peace was a clear departure from the era of arming of ‘dangerous’ boys who were unleashed on political opponents during the time of a former administration in the state which led to the spilling of scores of innocent blood and reign of the culture of violence and gangsterism.

“Such scenario also played out during the 2003 governorship election in the state where some parts of the state went up in flames when some desperate politicians who brought in armed mercenaries from neigbouring states of Benue and Kogi resorted to arson and shooting.

“At the end of the ugly melee, lives were lost including a police orderly in Enugu-Ezike, vehicles and motorcycles burnt while INEC office was also torched in another part of the state.

“Successive administration in the state didn’t follow this deadly path while in government while the incumbent not only sustained the tempo but made peace and consultation with the people a cardinal thrust of his administration which has in turn yielded many positive fruit.”

CLO South East noted that reflecting on the horrible past is a great lesson for the present and the future hence the urgent need to nip in the bud, this plan to take us back to ‘Egypt’.

It observed that prelude to the party primaries and the post primaries in the zone, some politicians have made careless utterances with some declaring that the coming elections is going to be ‘war’ in Enugu State and the entire South East.

According to the rights group, “It befuddles the CLO what the proponents of war and instigators of violence stands to gain at the end of the day when they grab power or desecrate the system through this method.

“As part of its efforts in deepening democracy and in ensuring that the right process is followed in the 2019 elections, the CLO has kick-started a violence free election campaign aimed at eschewing violence and other inappropriate behaviours during the election.

“Though from available realities on ground, the central government in Nigeria has displayed serious actions of desperation to win at all costs and muscling of the opposition to its own advantage, it is our firm resolve that the South East must get their acts right by voting right, doing the right thing and having the right atmosphere for the democratic process to succeed instead of the other way round.

“It is only those who are afraid of losing or those who are unpopular and desperate that resorts to violence. Violence is also a sign of weakness and not strength.

“We call on the political gladiators to review their acts and actions now. Every party candidate and their supporters should endeavour to sell their manifesto and market themselves positively to the electorates.

“The security agencies have lots of roles to play in this regard. Their impartiality and prompt proactive and reactive responses to any untoward situation is very important. The Climate of Impunity reigning in the country is as a result of selective justice and this emboldens more people to commit all manner of anomalies and crime since they know that nothing will happen to them.

“Let the full weight of the law be visited on any law breaker no matter how highly placed such person may be. The 2019 election is a defining moment for the future of Nigeria and nothing improper should be allowed to mess up the process.

“We say no to violence in any form in the South East likewise the entire country during the elections and after and we call on all to commit to this path. Anything to the contrary should be condemned, abhorred and dealt with according to the law.”

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