'Lai Olurode they nevertheless produce atrocities(Akanmu, 2012:17). However, conflict occurs in the absence of elections. Thirdly, efforts at voter education notwithstanding, the mindset of an average voter is rigid and generally people are gullible and fickle minded. With low level of literacy, the mind is made up before elections as to who the winner should be. Once the outcomes differ, the only reason acceptable to this mindset is that there had been perpetration of electoral malpractices. For a country that is permanently on the edge and precipice, the road to anarchy is short indeed. Without any constitutional change of the electoral system, losing in elections will continue to inflict substantial losses. To mitigate conflict, a sort of proportional representation is being proposed instead of the present practice of winners take all. Related to this phenomenon are ideas and practices that are associated with the power of incumbency. The trappings of and perquisites of juicy public offices are too attractive ­drivers and choice cars at your disposal, furnished apartments, regular trips abroad, meeting and dining with powerful elites, free overseas medicals at public expenses, regular salaries and allowances and opportunities for perks and personal enrichment. It is often difficult to ward off pressure to exercise the power of incumbency to electoral advantage, security agents could be willing stooges in this regard. They often dance to the drums of the highest bidder. So, when individuals are preoccupied with the pursuit of self-interest, the cause of public good can only be accidentally served. A free market in goods and services cannot be trusted to serve the public good consistently or blindly. This was the point that was made by 8 ELECTION SECURITY IN NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING Election Security in Nigeria: Is there a Silver Lining? Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations when he argued that it is not from the philanthropy of the butcher we obtain our dinner but from his regard for his own self-interest. We are now in an age where there is virtually no moderation in the crass pursuit of self-interest to the neglect of collective humanity; ethics have been sidelined in all these pursuits for material opulence. And in this pursuit of either self or group interest or even both, any available means is justifiable once the end is assured. This explains why elections and conflict appear to be companions, however paradoxically this may be. The only consideration for pursing a line of action, no matter how deleterious it is to the rest of humanity is'what is in it for me?'(See Peter Singer, 1997 chapter 2). To avert disaster in this age of globalism, we must cultivate humanistic philosophy and ethics that see others as the extension of the self and sees human sufferings, misery, social inequality and poverty as constituting a nuisance and negation of peaceful co-existence. Even, if we win all, what next other than expressions of greed and avariciousness. 1.3 About the Contents of this Publication The methodologies for meeting the workshops objectives included commissioned papers, submissions at a roundtable by stakeholders and discussions as well as reactions by participants. In chapter 2, Lancelot Anyanya assessed the security arrangements put in place for the 2011 elections as recommended by the 2010 workshop. The author was a good choice for this assessment having being part of the contributors to the edited work that emanated from the 2010 ELECTION SECURITY IN NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING 9