Kogi — Electoral violence which characterised the gubernatorial elections across the country, especially in Kogi State during the last general elections has prompted the need to tighten the security situation in the state in view of the forthcoming gubernatorial bye-election, writes Atang Izang.

Even before the election petitions tribunal which sat in Lokoja, Kogi State, ruled in favour of fresh election in the Confluence State, the state of security there was already becoming an issue of concern.

Therefore, immediately the governorship of the state was quashed because of the unlawful exclusion of the name of one of the candidates in the polls, Prince Abubakar Audu and the logo of his party, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the situation (security) assumed a frightening dimension. This is more so with the opposition candidates and their teeming supporters resident in Lokoja, the state capital and in other parts of the state. The most harassed and intimidated politician, apparently, is the former governor of the state, Prince Audu who had always accused the recently sacked chief executive, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who took over from Audu in 2003 as the mastermind of all his woes. The two have been engaged in a war of attrition all for the soul of the state.

It would be recalled that Prince Abubakar Audu, on three occasions, had escaped assassination attempts on his life, the most recent being the December 31, 2007, at Anyingba, the town of the University established by the Audu's government.

His bullet-proof Jeep car was riddled with bullets at the venue of the Igala National Day. According to reports which were widely carried by both print and electronic media, the former governor, escaped being assassinated at the venue of the ceremony held at the state university stadium in Anyingba.

Although, the then state governor, Ibrahim Idris who was present at the occasion and saw all the violent drama, denied having anything to do with the incident. However, many were of the view that it was part of the political rivalry between the two gladiators in the state carried too far.

But if Audu has been that lucky on both occasions, many of his stalwarts seem not. Allegedly, many of them have been mowed down by assassin's bullets and other dangerous arms, allegedly at the instance of the immediate past state government.

In fact, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation's recent survey on the most hostile and instable areas of conflicts, Anyingba, the University town in Kogi State, was rated even ahead of the trouble-proned Niger Delta Region.

As if to lend credence to that unfortunate tag, the immediate past government, in one of its alleged numerous assaults on opponents and perceived opponents, attacked one Mr. Okowute Dekina and his wife as well as Alhaji Umaru Ohimini also of Dekina who are the major arrow heads of the Prince Abubakar Audu's governorship campaign team. It was a narrow escape from the claws of death.

According to sources, a group of persons believed to be behind some of the un-necessary violence have been equipped both financially and otherwise to carry any nefarious activities just in case some interests are not adequately protected in the upcoming poll slated for March 29, 2008.

It would be recalled that the acting state governor of Kogi State, Chief Clarence Olufemi was reported to have declared that the forthcoming gubernatorial bye-election in the state will be a matter of life and death.

Quite interesting too, immediately he was removed by the Appeal Court, the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, was said to have expressed his support for soldiers to be deployed to the state during the polls to forestall any break down of law and order.

However, many are of the view that, that statement from the then governor came after he was summoned by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to the Villa to explain and to as well, answer some questions on the security situation in the state.

Now that INEC has fixed March 29, 2008, for the bye-election, many are of the view that there's need to beef up security in the entire state because of the high profile culture of thuggery, violence, intimidation, harassment, killing and maiming. A man and his younger brother were attacked and his properties and cattle were plundered by their assailants. The younger brother is still said to be in the hospital in a critical condition.

Okene in Ebira land had just witnessed a bloody violence which did not only leave several people wounded and dead but which also sacked the entire city.

Many indigenes of the state are calling on President Yar'Adua to come to their rescue by providing more security before and during the polls or otherwise, many of the electorate will be disenfranchised during the election or may be tempted to use other means of demanding their rights.

Meanwhile, the people of the state are still not clear about the reports that Ibrahim Idris' arrest by the men of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, may have made the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contemplate on replacing him with Mr. Musa Ujah, chairman of STRABAC Africa, a construction giant.