Thuggery: A Poisonous Vice on Democracy In A "Developing" Nigeria And The Way Forward- Barryfem

BY: COMRADE ADEGBEYENI OLUWAFEMI (BARRYFEM)

Thuggery has been defined as a violent behavior that is criminal or antisocial (Cambridge Dictionary). The Longman Dictionary also defined it as violent behavior in which people fight and attack others. There is usually an element of violence on several definitions of thuggery.

COMRADE ADEGBEYENI OLUWAFEMI (BARRYFEM)

A student of Law(AAUA), ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

In a country that is old as Nigeria,one would expect it to have gotten rid of thuggery as a developing nation. Despite the fact that both municipal and international laws kicked against violence in whatever form,it is still prevalent in every zones in Nigeria. It must be noted that where thuggery thrives, violence becomes the order of the day. The right to life, dignity, movement and host of others are threatened or taken.

Article 6 of the Universal declaration of human rights (UDHR) provides that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" but in Nigeria,the situation of thing is deplorable as regards the havoc wrecked through thuggery, which usually happen during election which is a democratic process in Nigeria.

Information has it that in the recently concluded election in Kogi state, life and properties were lost,human being was burnt alive and there were stoppages of franchise!

The above are clear contravention of rights to life and property as enshrined in Chapter IV, section 31,43 and 44 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Do we blame those involved or their sponsors? An average Nigerian believes that thugs and thuggery is being encouraged and managed by some politicians for election purposes and others. The unfortunate thugs die during such violence while the fortunate ones get their pays and get celebrated. Anytime I hear any Nigerian celebrating a thug in any state in Nigeria, I weep.

To do Justice to this topic,the causes of thuggery must be made known. Without apology, I dare to list the following as the causes of thuggery in Nigeria; lack of proper family upbringing or home training, moral decadence that is rampant and encouraging to the youth who are believed to leaders of tomorrow.

Another cause is unemployment and idleness. A graduate who is desperate to get a job but couldn't would do anything to earn a living.

Other causes are; peer pressure, get rich quick mentality, low self esteem among others.

Nigeria is called a developing country, but is thuggery(an animalistic behavior) not a sign of backwardness? In a democratic dispensation, where everyone should be free and everything be free, fair and organised, but *Nigeria continues to experienced ballot snatching,arson,and all sorts of embarrassing occurrences.

IS THIS TRULY A DEMOCRACY OR A DEMO-THUGGERY?

There is need to consider the devastating effect of thuggery and amend our ways. The 'green' and 'red' houses should be able to come up with lion-laws that would discourage thuggery in Nigeria. Among the effects are; crisis and chaos in the nation, killing,loss of national respect and others.

The ugliest effect of thuggery is that it leads to terrorism!

Let it not be denied that most terrorists were thugs,touts or bullies in their earlier days

Thuggery is also used to truncate democratic processes. Thugs are used by some politicians to facilitate election rigging, thereby changing the wills of the people and giving them wrong mandates.

If thuggery should persist, when will it not go down into the bellies of our democracy and poison it?

That's is when the people are going to lose interest in government and its activities. When this is done, people take things into their own hands and we are going to have a "brutish, nasty and short society"

People begin to wonder why their popular candidate do not always win election, they will come to a particular state of consciousness that can stab democracy at the back.

That is when we would be having "10 out 1000" votes during election because of loss of interest and trust in such election.

A problem should always have a solution. It is good to know that we can solve the problem of thuggery in Nigeria through these ways; total discouragement of thuggery through enactment of stiff laws and penalties against it.

The National assembly should swing into action by passing stiff electoral acts and other necessary reforms should be carried out to eradicate thuggery in Nigeria.

Government should also implement good policies to discourage its citizens from thuggery. There should be provision for employment, security and other benefits of a citizen.

The judiciary should be approached when cases of thuggery arise. Such should be properly prosecuted and punished!

Conclusively, our dear developing Nation, Nigeria, needs to move from it status quo and get a "developed" tag. This might not be achieved without discouraging frivolities in it. That is why I will applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for his war agaist corruption(I pray it gets to all corners in Nigeria).

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We have seen the effects of thuggery in a developing Nigeria and there is a need for politicians who are being tagged as godfathers of thuggery to prove otherwise by discouraging and acting against thuggery. All hands should be ready to move this country forward and make it enviable to the world.