2027: Lagos No Man’s Land Narrative as Political Weapon
Another general election cycle is here again. Though nearly two years away, the signs are all over the place. The atmosphere is increasingly getting tense as elections in Nigeria are usually like the coming of Armageddon -the prophesied final battle between good and evil, often associated with the coming of Jesus Christ and the end of the world.
Elections in this clime are not a walk in the park. In 2007, former President Olusegun Obasanjo himself captured one of those scary moments in our elections when he described the poll as a do-or-die affair. He vowed then that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must win the election and it did. Also, President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2023 general election said power was not served ala carte. Referring to the process of getting power, he had said: “ grab it, snatch it and run with it.” Like he said, his party, the APC rode roughshod in the election and was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). So, for politicians, the end justifies the means.
It is little wonder that in each election cycle, power brokers usually concoct all manner of narratives to manipulate the people. Some of them regurgitate unsubstantiated story lines and push it down the minds of the prospective voters. Most times, they succeed to influence the usually malleable voters.
One of the mischievous stories that crop up in elections especially since 2014 is weaved around, “Lagos Is No Man’s Land.” It has become a recurring political weapon during elections. Like an albatross, desperate politicians have hung the mischievous narrative around the neck of the Igbo tribe. The whole idea is to pitch the Igbo against their Yoruba brothers to achieve a predetermined political goal. For most politicians, the game is not for champions of moral values and etiquette as the outcome is what matters.
It is for that reason that Nigerians should beware of politicians as the nation inches toward the next general election. The political merchants and buccaneers are already in the field whipping up all manner of sentiments among the people. Their pattern is familiar and the people should not easily forget who they are dealing with. It is a class whose stock in trade is manipulating the masses for political gains.
The political hawks are already setting traps for the masses, and it is a potent, familiar path they are used to. Their modus operandi is simple: spew hate speeches to divide the people, spread propaganda to reinforce the fault lines and deploy enough divide and rule methodologies to divert the minds of Nigerians from the real issues. In successive elections, it has worked for the political class.
Hate speech according to an overview by Artificial Intelligence, is increasingly recognized as a political tool used to manipulate public opinion, incite violence, and undermine democratic processes. It says that politicians and political movements often employ hate speech to polarize societies, attack opponents, and mobilize support, particularly during elections but that the tactic can lead to real harm, including physical violence and social unrest.
Today, Social media platforms have become a breeding ground for hate speech, with politicians and their supporters using these platforms to disseminate inflammatory messages.
That is why Nigerians should be cautious in internalising messages from politicians ahead of 2027. For instance, critical observes worry that, the phrase “Lagos Is No man’s Land” is coming up again. It is a pretty old figurative expression that has been exploited by some unscrupulous politicians to sow the seeds of disharmony among residents of the cosmopolitan state. And the phrase objectively evokes different emotions and thoughts in people. For some, it may connote the idea of a free-for-all, where people from different ethnic backgrounds coexist and thrive like in New York city. Others view it as a reminder of the city’s rich history of diversity and inclusivity. However, there are those especially politicians who have taken advantage of the phrase to propagate divisiveness and create strife among the city’s inhabitants.
So, as Nigerians prepare for another round of elections, it is essential for the unsuspecting masses to recognize and reject such attempts to undermine the unity and harmony that Lagos is known for. They should not fall for the same old tricks by politicians.
In 2015 when Mr Jimi Agbaje of the PDP was recording some momentum against Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC for the governorship position in Lagos, such manipulative narrative by politicians was unleashed as a campaign gimmick. Agbaje was accused of promising to make the Eze Ndi Igbo a first-class traditional ruler of equal status with the Oba of Lagos. Many easily bought the lie and recoiled against Agbaje.
In 2019 when Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu contested against Agbaje to be governor of Lagos, the narrative was resuscitated and many still fell for it. Ahead of 2027, the Lagos No Man’s Land narrative came early probably in view of the outcome of the last presidential election where the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi shocked many book makers by beating President Bola Tinubu of the APC in Lagos, a state considered his stronghold.
After the election and the victory of the APC, the ethnic narrative was reinforced by the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa. During his third inauguration in June, he had issued a subtle threat that “there would be laws and resolutions in the areas of economy and commerce, property and titles,” to protect the indigenes of Lagos. Many observers believe that the recent renaming of streets bearing Igbo names is part of the fallout of the 2023 general elections.
But the citizens should not succumb to the shenanigans of politicians whose ulterior motive is to create divisions among the tribes. Not a few argue for instance that no Igbo has been a prime contender for the governorship seat of Lagos despite the negative perception being created that people of that tribal extraction want to control the state. The only thing the Igbo – like other ethnic groups – have tried to do is to peacefully exercise their right to vote and be voted for as guaranteed by the constitution to citizens. In all, the message ahead of 2027 general elections is clear: Nigerians should beware of politicians and their obsession to win elections by all means.
