2023 ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY

Nigeria’s presidential election is Ninety seven days from now, and it seems like politicians, Nigerian citizens, journalists and various civil and society organisations have failed to focus on the real issues, instead of which they rather concentrate on the ongoing campaign of calumny and abuse.

It is very glaring that currently in Nigeria, we have three leading Presidential aspirants which are Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Bola Tinubu of the All progressive Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party. And the supporters of these three candidates have widely adopted a campaign of calumny against each other in favour of their candidates. Why the campaign of calumny instead of focusing on real issues bedeviling the country?

The real issues should be, who out of the leading candidates is ready to change the face of the country in the international scene, wipe out poverty from the nation, secure Nigerians and provide necessary infrastructure with an assurance that governance would no longer be business as usual.

Instead of focusing on these pressing issues, many had concluded that some candidates are unfit to be president. That is self-judgment. The president of the United States, Joe Biden clocked 80 years today and at different times handed over governance to his deputy to enable him seek medical treatment. Yes, an 80 year old president would definitely need to concentrate on his health irrespective of the task he has accepted. To be president, past ideas and experience of governance is needed to excel. It goes beyond the societal applause. The business of governance is different from name calling.

There are cabals that had made Nigeria ungovernable, we need a tactical leader that can lead without dancing to their tune, the person who would lead must be disciplined and ready to step on toes, while he maintains the sanctity of human life. Governance is beyond buying laptop computers and giving scholarship to good students. All these cannot wipe out Politics. Politics is not “Emi lokan” nor is not about being a former Vice President. It is about the people. Nigerians have been taken for granted for a long time, if not for social media that widened the horizon of participation which has made government participatory. In the past, it was more like a cult group.

All thanks to the advocacy of different groups which have suddenly raised the consciousness of many people coupled with the interest of those in diaspora which has suddenly reinforced the consciousness that there is no place like home.

Having noted the conduct of some politicians which have been seen as deviating from the rule of decency contrary to the guidelines provided by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for political advertisement, it is imperative that politicians focus on real issues affecting the average man, we don’t need singing and dancing, this is not entertainment, leadership is serious business.

People should know that whatever decision is made now will determine what the future of Nigeria will be when the new President assumes office. It’s time to shun media content that is bent of misleading the people over their choice of who or not to vote for. This is not the time to follow the crowd,those who listen to the crowd often end up taking a bad decision.

Three Leading Candidates

Nigerians should look for the manifesto of each candidates and digest it. This should be able to guide us aright. I am very sure that if any of the leading candidates win, they will work hard as they are aware that Nigerians are no longer sleeping, but the truth is, the best is what we need and it is not a matter of go and verify. Though we cannot neglect past antecedents of the contestants, we should be looking more to the future and what they can offer.

If this is done and we totally shun campaign of calumny,I am of the opinion that Nigeria will make a right choice. We owe it to ourselves and the incoming generations to get it right.

Let us not be distracted by singing, dancing and campaigns that are little more than abusing the opponents without any real substance, let us focus on the ones that addresses the real issues facing us, the ones who tell us our problems,insecurity, inflation, bad infrastructure, educational failures, and brain drain just to name a few, and how they plan to fix all these issues if they are elected.

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