BY DAPO AKINREFON
LAGOS  – OPPOSITION political parties in the country, yesterday, rejected the decision of the Federal Government to deploy soldiers for the 2011 general elections.

Both the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, decried the measure taken by government.

While the ACN said the use of the military for elections in a democracy was an anomaly, the CPC said it was the duty of the police to ensure there was adequate security during the polls.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said the planned deployment was a continuation of the intimidation tactics of the PDP-ruled Federal Government, wondering why soldiers who were trained to fight wars are being drafted into a purely civil matter like elections.

The statement reads: “‘The deployment of troops creates an atmosphere of warfare, which in turn heats up the polity. That’s why it is not a common occurrence in other climes during elections.

Ours should not be different. In Nigeria, the reason the PDP-controlled Federal Government will want to deploy the military is not to stem the rising cases of violence which, in any case, are caused by the intolerance of the incumbent PDP governors in the various states where the party holds sway. The simple reason is to use the military to intimidate the opposition and pave the way for rigging.”

Besides, the party chided the Council of State for approving the use during the elections. It noted: “We are, therefore, astonished that the National Council of State will rubber stamp this PDP-orchestrated decision to deploy the military for the forthcoming polls.”

Checkmating of PDP

ACN, however, said it would be difficult for the soldiers to checkmate the PDP, because the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan, was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which pre-supposes that the soldiers’ loyalty will be to him.

It said:  “Also of great concern to us as a party is the effect the deployment of troops will have on the polity. Already, a certain senior officer in a para-military institution, who has been harassing and intimidating the opposition in the Irepodun area of Kwara State, is said to have started sewing army uniforms for his party’s thugs, as part of his campaign of terror in the area.”

ACN also faulted the idea of allowing the military, noting: “We have also heard that PDP chieftains in several states are sewing military uniforms for their thugs. Once these thugs are adorned with these military uniforms, who can challenge them to know whether they are fake or genuine?

Who can confront them when they engaged in their rigging antics, especially in the countryside? This is part of the danger of  deploying troops for elections.”

The party which warned against the continued use of the military for mundane internal matters, said that over-exposure of the military in a democracy had its inherent dangers.

Buhari reacts

On his part, Buhari who spoke through his media spokesman, Yinka Odunmakin, said the election was a civic duty, stressing that the police and not the military should be deployed for the purpose.

The CPC presidential candidate said the use of the military should not be an avenue by politicians to rig during the polls, stressing: “In a normal society, election is not a military duty, it is a civic duty which should involve the Nigeria Police.

The Council of State may have their reasons for approving such decisions, but the most important thing is that the soldiers must subject themselves to the will of the people.

“Their duty, during the election is to maintain peace and provide adequate security during the elections; they should not allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous politicians to snatch ballot boxes.

The military personnel, who are deployed for the purpose of this elections, must ensure that their role is neutral. They are out to ensure security and not thwart the clamour by people who have been agitating for change.”