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Nigerians vote for president amid fears of Boko Haram, political violence Nigerians vote for president amid fears of Boko Haram, political violence
(about 3 hours later)
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — One week after she was freed from her captors in the notorious Boko Haram militia, Ubwamtu Papka was sitting in a harshly lit room in the Pinnacle Hotel in this war-scarred city, wondering why she had been brought here in a convoy of trucks. MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — One week after she was freed from her captors in the notorious Boko Haram militia, Ubwamtu Papka was sitting in a harshly lighted room in the Pinnacle Hotel in this war-scarred city, wondering why she had been brought here in a convoy of trucks.
This time, the men driving her weren’t insurgents. They were members of the president’s political party, the People’s Democratic Party, eager to use Papka on the campaign trail. But when they introduced the weary-looking woman in her early 50s to a journalist this week, she conveyed only her confusion.This time, the men driving her weren’t insurgents. They were members of the president’s political party, the People’s Democratic Party, eager to use Papka on the campaign trail. But when they introduced the weary-looking woman in her early 50s to a journalist this week, she conveyed only her confusion.
“I don’t know why I am here,” she said listlessly.“I don’t know why I am here,” she said listlessly.
With the tightest presidential election in Nigeria’s history taking place Saturday, both leading candidates have been keen to use Boko Haram — and the fight against the extremist Islamists — to their political advantage. President Goodluck Jonathan has boasted about his military’s recent successes against the group, such as the operation that led to Papka’s release after eight months in the hands of the militants.With the tightest presidential election in Nigeria’s history taking place Saturday, both leading candidates have been keen to use Boko Haram — and the fight against the extremist Islamists — to their political advantage. President Goodluck Jonathan has boasted about his military’s recent successes against the group, such as the operation that led to Papka’s release after eight months in the hands of the militants.
His challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, has blamed Jonathan for allowing Boko Haram to carry out mass kidnappings in the first place.His challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, has blamed Jonathan for allowing Boko Haram to carry out mass kidnappings in the first place.
“Never again will Nigerian children be slaughtered or kidnapped at will,” Buhari promised in his “Covenant with Nigerians,” a campaign pamphlet outlining what he would do as president. Buhari has assailed the government for Boko Haram’s abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok last spring, calling it Nigeria’s “greatest embarrassment” since it gained independence from Britain in 1960. “Never again will Nigerian children be slaughtered or kidnapped at will,” Buhari promised in his “Covenant With Nigerians,” a campaign pamphlet outlining what he would do as president. Buhari has assailed the government for Boko Haram’s abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok last spring, calling it Nigeria’s “greatest embarrassment” since it gained independence from Britain in 1960.
But those whose relatives are still missing — or who have suffered themselves under the militants — see the two campaigns as using the delicate security situation to gain votes without crafting a long-term approach to combat a tenacious insurgency. But those whose relatives are still missing — or who have suffered themselves under the militants— see the two campaigns as using the delicate security situation to gain votes without crafting a long-term approach to combat a tenacious insurgency.
Even on Friday, as the Nigerian military claimed to have taken Boko Haram’s headquarters in the northeastern town of Gwoza, many people saw the achievement as a carefully timed political move aimed at improving Jonathan’s chances.Even on Friday, as the Nigerian military claimed to have taken Boko Haram’s headquarters in the northeastern town of Gwoza, many people saw the achievement as a carefully timed political move aimed at improving Jonathan’s chances.
“They are playing a political game on the eve of the election,” said Fatimah Abba Kaka, a woman attending a vigil Friday for the missing Chibok girls in the capital, Abuja. Vigils have been held nearly every day in the city, in a small park between two highways, since the girls were abducted last April.“They are playing a political game on the eve of the election,” said Fatimah Abba Kaka, a woman attending a vigil Friday for the missing Chibok girls in the capital, Abuja. Vigils have been held nearly every day in the city, in a small park between two highways, since the girls were abducted last April.
“We have watched them become political tools,” Tsambido Hosea, whose niece and cousin were among the kidnapped, said at the vigil. Most of the girls are still missing.“We have watched them become political tools,” Tsambido Hosea, whose niece and cousin were among the kidnapped, said at the vigil. Most of the girls are still missing.
Many Nigerians fear that Boko Haram could attack voters going to the polls Saturday. But that is not the only threat of violence hanging over the elections. Many Nigerians fear that Boko Haram could attack voters going to the polls Saturday. But that is not the only threat of violence hanging over the election.
An incumbent has never lost a Nigerian presidential election, and pre-election polls show a dead heat between Buhari and Jonathan. That has raised concerns about a violent reaction no matter who wins. In 2011, in a much less heated contest between the same candidates, about 1,000 people were killed in post-election bloodshed. An incumbent has never lost a Nigerian presidential contest, and pre-election polls show a dead heat between Buhari and Jonathan. That has raised concerns about a violent reaction no matter who wins. In 2011, in a much less contentious race between the same candidates, about 1,000 people were killed in post-election bloodshed.
Already, Buhari’s party has said that if Jonathan is declared the victor, it will set up a “parallel government.”Already, Buhari’s party has said that if Jonathan is declared the victor, it will set up a “parallel government.”
The Nigerian army’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, issued a warning at a news conference, saying that whoever provoked violence would meet “organized violence” from the authorities. The Nigerian army’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, issued a warning at a news conference, saying that anyone who provokes violence will meet “organized violence” from authorities.
“The elections have the potential to be profoundly destabilizing. If the country degenerates into widespread violence, that has an impact across West Africa,” said John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria who is now at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.“The elections have the potential to be profoundly destabilizing. If the country degenerates into widespread violence, that has an impact across West Africa,” said John Campbell, a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria who is now at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.
Hanging in the balance is the government’s fight against Boko Haram, whose members have terrorized the country for six years. More than 10,000 people have been killed in violence connected to the extremist group. Boko Haram recently declared its allegiance to the Islamic State militants who have seized parts of Iraq and Syria.Hanging in the balance is the government’s fight against Boko Haram, whose members have terrorized the country for six years. More than 10,000 people have been killed in violence connected to the extremist group. Boko Haram recently declared its allegiance to the Islamic State militants who have seized parts of Iraq and Syria.
The past six weeks have seen a successful multinational military campaign against Boko Haram, with troops from Chad and Niger participating. Private military contractors from Eastern Europe and South Africa have also been hired by the Ni­ger­ian government, according to Nigerian officials. The past six weeks have seen a successful multinational military campaign against Boko Haram, with troops from Chad and Niger participating. Private military contractors from Eastern Europe and South Africa have also been hired by the Ni­ger­ian government, Ni­ger­ian officials said.
But while the militants appear to have fled from their former strongholds, there are still probably thousands of them hiding in the Sambisa Forest and other rural enclaves, capable of executing guerrilla-style attacks. But while the militants appear to have fled from their former strongholds, there are still probably thousands of them hiding in the Sambisa Forest and other rural enclaves, capable of executing ­guerrilla-style attacks.
“Reoccupation [of territory]does not mean they’ve been defeated,” said Campbell. “Boko Haram is still holding on.” “Reoccupation [of territory] does not mean they’ve been defeated,” said Campbell. “Boko Haram is still holding on.”
It’s unclear how much the winner of Saturday’s election would invest in the next — and probably hardest — chapter of the counterinsurgency campaign.It’s unclear how much the winner of Saturday’s election would invest in the next — and probably hardest — chapter of the counterinsurgency campaign.
Jonathan is accused of doing little until recently, in part because of systemic problems within his military. Buhari, a retired general who ruled Nigeria in 1984-85 following a coup, has discussed the need to increase pressure on Boko Haram but has avoided specifics.Jonathan is accused of doing little until recently, in part because of systemic problems within his military. Buhari, a retired general who ruled Nigeria in 1984-85 following a coup, has discussed the need to increase pressure on Boko Haram but has avoided specifics.
Boko Haram is not, however, the only issue on which the election will turn. Oil production, which accounts for 70 percent of Nigeria’s economy, is no longer as profitable as it once was because prices have plunged.Boko Haram is not, however, the only issue on which the election will turn. Oil production, which accounts for 70 percent of Nigeria’s economy, is no longer as profitable as it once was because prices have plunged.
Corruption plagues many of the country’s public institutions. An ethno-religious divide is already pronounced between the mostly Muslim north and the Christian south. Buhari is Muslim, while Jonathan is Christian. Corruption plagues many of the country’s public institutions. An ethnic and religious divide is already pronounced between the mostly Muslim north and the Christian south. Buhari is Muslim, while Jonathan is Christian.
In places such as Maiduguri, long haunted by Boko Haram attacks, the streets were filled with traffic this week and shops on the main street were crowded with customers. But there were still plenty of signs of destruction and decay. Like much of northeastern Nigeria, Maiduguri is a city in need of economic development. But Nigeria’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. In places such as Maiduguri, long haunted by Boko Haram attacks, the streets were filled with traffic this week and shops on the main road were crowded with customers. But there were still plenty of signs of destruction and decay. Like much of northeastern Nigeria, Maiduguri is in need of economic development. But Nigeria’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few.
The most pressing challenge for both main candidates is getting their supporters safely to the polls. Boko Haram may be on its heels, but many here worry about the security of polling sites across the country. The most pressing challenge for both main candidates is getting their supporters to the polls safely. Boko Haram may be on its heels, but many here worry about the security of polling sites across the country.
For her part, Papka will not be voting. She was in Boko Haram custody during the period in which citizens had to apply for their voter registration cards. The insurgents had taken her from her village, called Pambum, and forced her to spend months in one room with about 30 other women before she was moved to another squalid room in a different village, she recounted. She will likely spend election day in her son’s home in Maiduguri.For her part, Papka will not be voting. She was in Boko Haram custody during the period in which citizens had to apply for their voter registration cards. The insurgents had taken her from her village, called Pambum, and forced her to spend months in one room with about 30 other women before she was moved to another squalid room in a different village, she recounted. She will likely spend election day in her son’s home in Maiduguri.
“I have no plans for the future,” she said, adding that she would await “whatever comes from God.”“I have no plans for the future,” she said, adding that she would await “whatever comes from God.”
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