by Tochukwu Asiegbu

Created on: October 16, 2009   Last Updated: October 18, 2009

Politics in Nigeria has been rightly described as a do or die affair. The manner in which the 1999, 2003 and 2007 political campaigns and elections were conducted justifies the above assertion. Hundreds of precious lives were lost in almost every state of the federation during each of these elections as political parties clashed with one another in what could best be defined as gun boat political campaigns. This prompts one to ask, who armed these thugs and for what purposes?

Of course they were armed by politicians to subdue their political opponents. And this goes on to reveal the kind of politicians we have in the country. Politicians who do not understand what politics is, neither do they have good intentions for the state they aspire to lead, decided to turn Nigeria into a war zone with their violent campaigns. Otherwise, how could a sane person employ and equip thugs with arms to engineer violence, kill their fellowmen and rig elections as exemplified in the past elections?

No wonder the problem of Nigeria revolves around bad leadership and corruption. History shows obviously that the study of political history of Nigeria is the study of men and women who embezzled public funds to enrich themselves and their friends alike.

The most deplorable aspect of this ugly situation is the way youths willingly hire themselves out to be used as thugs by these ignominious politicians in exchange for peanuts. There is a saying that youths are the live-wire of a state. Now the question is, what future has a state whose youths are thugs? No doubt, that state will be nothing but a home of gladiators in Hobbessian state of nature. Anarchy will be order of the day, and peace and development a far cry.

Anambra state youths should know that the situation described above may occur in the state if they embrace thuggery in this coming 2010 gubernatorial election in the state.

I keep on asking why fellow youths should ransom their lives for the lives of these old men who vowed never to empower the youths? Are we still ignorant of the intentions behind the games these impish politicians play? May I remind you that these quack politicians have youths in their various homes as their children but would not use them as thugs.

Instead they are sent to USA, London, France, etc to acquire better education and to enjoy better living. May I further inform you that the aim of these mischievous politicians is to wreck our future so that when their children return from overseas, they will continue

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