I came to Lagos in 1996 during my youth service, and I’ve been here since then.
Before the election, everything was okay. Because I do business and produce what people consume daily, most of my customers are locals, and I have a good relationship with them.
I have been voting in almost all the elections because I like to exercise my franchise. I know my responsibilities as a good citizen.
After the presidential election, which Peter Obi won in Lagos state, the indigenes felt it was a big slap on their faces, and we started hearing them say that they would not allow a repeat in the governorship election. The governorship candidate for the Labour Party was GRV, whose mother is Igbo. So, the indigenes said he’s an Igbo boy. They said his name is Chinedu. They did away with his native name.
On the day of the election, because the presidential election was peaceful, everybody assumed that what they were saying would be mere threats and that they just wanted to persuade people to stay behind. On that day, early in the morning, before I left my house for my polling unit, we started seeing videos from the Ago area flooding social media. We saw people being stabbed. Saw people running. Some were flogged. So, everybody knew that this was not a mere threat. Fortunately for me, where I voted was within the estate where I live. But some people I know who left to go and vote, even in their estates, will tell you that the indigenes will come to the line and start selecting those who are not indigenes and tell them to go home.
They were beating a lot of them, slapping, using dangerous weapons on them. So, many people did not come out. I secretly came out and went to cast my vote. We were all watching with our phones. People were calling. Many people were taken to the hospital.
Apart from some victims that we know, many died and were taken home and buried. Nigerians, we forget easily. Before you know it, life returns to normal.
After the election, some of the people I know in my immediate environment began to regret the role they had played. Apart from the economic hardship, life was so terrible for a lot of people. But as for the violence and the attack, it didn’t continue because immediately after the election, it was like their job had been done. So, everybody became everybody’s neighbour again. Those who used to come and ask you for support continue to come and ask you for that support, despite what they did during the election.
I did not experience a similar treatment in previous elections. There wasn’t that level of violence. I know there were cases of ballot paper snatching, but this level of victimisation and killing, I have not heard about or seen it before.
Fear is a natural phenomenon. But I say I’m not afraid, not for myself, but for others. I’m afraid for Nigeria. I’m afraid for the children we have now, what their future will be. Because if we don’t check what is happening, a time will come when you call for elections, nobody will care to do anything, or even pick up a voter’s card.
Law enforcement agents should learn not to take sides. The ruling party should try not to influence the enforcement agents, especially the security agents.
I hope to see a Nigeria where every vote counts, a Nigeria where true democracy is practised.
As narrated by: Laurel Justina* (Lagos, Nigeria).
This snippet is published as part of the series, Not Your Lagos.
Discover more from Chronycles
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Published by