It is increasingly disturbing that some Nigerian politicians appear to be reducing politics to intimidation, threats, violence and the ruthless pursuit of power at all costs.
For such politicians, democracy risks becoming less about serving the people and more about capturing power, silencing opposition, intimidating citizens and manipulating political processes to secure victory.
What a disgrace.
How can anyone claim to be a democrat while threatening the very citizens whose votes are supposed to determine who governs them? What kind of democracy can thrive where fear and coercion replace persuasion, dialogue and genuine competition?
Some politicians behave as though Nigeria is their personal estate and citizens are merely political subjects. They forget that political office is a temporary mandate entrusted to them by the people. It is not a throne inherited by force, nor is it a licence to intimidate those who disagree with them.
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Perhaps even more disturbing is the apparent arrogance with which some political actors operate, seemingly convinced that control of political power gives them the authority to harass, threaten or suppress anyone who dares to challenge them.
This is not the democracy Nigerians deserve. It is political gangsterism wearing the garment of democracy.
Democracy is built on freedom of choice, political participation, peaceful competition, respect for opposing views and the right of citizens to choose their leaders without fear. When voters are intimidated or electoral officials are threatened, the integrity of the democratic process is placed at serious risk.
Nigerians must reject a political culture where intimidation replaces persuasion, thuggery replaces ideas, propaganda replaces performance and fear replaces freedom.
An election won through threats, violence or coercion may produce a declared winner, but it cannot erase the damage done to democratic participation. When citizens are prevented from freely expressing their political choices, democracy itself becomes the casualty.
Political leaders should understand that opposition is not treason, criticism is not an act of war, and disagreement is not a justification for intimidation.
A healthy democracy must have room for competing ideas, dissenting voices and peaceful political mobilisation. Political parties and their supporters must be able to compete without turning elections into battles for survival.
The Nigerian people deserve politics based on ideas, policies, competence and accountability—not fear.
We must therefore challenge every attempt to normalise political violence and intimidation, regardless of the politician, political party or interest involved.
Enough of this political gangsterism.
Nigeria belongs to all its citizens, not to politicians, godfathers, political thugs or partisan interests.
The ballot box should be a place where citizens exercise their democratic rights freely—not a battlefield where fear determines who participates.
If democracy is to survive and flourish, political power must be won through persuasion, participation and the consent of the people—not through intimidation and force.
Written by Festus Edovia, ANIPR, FICM
