Politicians should stop funding macho men

Eminent personalities and bodies, both in and outside the country, have been urging the nation to conduct peaceful and free elections.

 It is with this in mind that the DAILY GRAPHIC sees the formation of Macho for Good and Justice as timely.

Macho for Good and Justice is a group of bodybuilders, some of whom were, in the past, on the payroll of politicians. Their duties included intimidating voters perceived to belong to a party other than their paymasters and stealing/snatching ballot boxes for their masters during elections.

The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) yesterday hosted a section of the members of this association, who said they had worked for many politicians and perpetrated violence on fellow citizens with the sole aim of ensuring that their paymasters won elections they had contested.

But they had repented, they said, and would now on preach peace and never allow themselves to be used to embark on lawless activities.

Unfortunately, in the course of their nefarious activities, some among them died and others were maimed for life.

The DAILY GRAPHIC wishes to commend the ‘macho men’ for finally repenting  from their misdeeds. We also express our profound appreciation to the brains behind the laudable initiative. The formation of Macho for Good and Justice and the subsequent revelations by the members, however, raise a lot of issues. They show that the state has not succeeded in providing job opportunities for its citizens.

The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, would advise that the problem of unemployment be tackled aggressively if peace is to be achieved and sustained, since the devil finds work for the idle hand.  We think the country can use the association profitably. For instance, the security agencies could tap information from the members, so that such information could help them in their fight against electoral crimes.

We also think that as a nation we should revisit the winner-takes-all system that has characterised our democracy. It is this issue that makes politicians go all out to win elections, no matter the method employed.

We commend the various religious organisations and individuals who now provide for the upkeep of the reformed ‘macho men’. But it is necessary that we help them channel their energies into more productive ventures, so that they do not go back to what fed them. We know the existence of ‘macho men’, but until yesterday many did not know their activities were deep-seated and that the nation was sitting on a time bomb.

The DAILY GRAPHIC urges all the political parties to desist from using these men to visit mayhem on fellow citizens. We dare say that anybody who, no matter his or her social standing, contracts these men to perpetuate crime should be dealt with mercilessly.

Thanks to Macho for Good and Justice, we now know the people behind the dastardly acts committed by ‘macho men’. We will watch and hope that the shameless politicians will not be at this game again on Friday.