The attitude of politicians across parties to employ the use of weapons and thugs as tools of suppression to deny opponents of their electoral chances at any level of elections, as recorded at primary election venues particularly in Lagos and parts of the country in the last 48 hours, has been decried by Major General Adekunle Abdullahi Martins (Rtd).
General Martins, who was speaking from personal experience and reports received from other states, said such attitude is unhealthy, must stop and then he warned politicians to behave themselves if they really want democracy to work for Nigeria and Nigerians as, according to him, no good leadership can emerge from such a forceful electoral process.
In an exclusive message to The DEFENDER on Sunday, the General, who is former Commander, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, said described such undemocratic behaviour as self-styled coup and calls for a stop of it.
The General’s worry stems from the stand point of the fact that politicians who deploy guns at primary elections are capable of deploying more sophisticated instruments at general elections.
“Political aspirants in a self styled coup using weapons and thugs, to prevent weak contestants at party primary elections and force themselves into power in a democracy, is dangerous if not stopped.”
