Campaigns by political parties in the country either at rallies or on television, newspaper or other forms of social media have been attracting series of reactions from individuals and organisations.
While some believe that the campaigns conform to the normal practice in politics, others differ, claiming that political parties have deviated and are misleading the people.
Saturday Sun spoke with a cross-section of Nigerians on the issue. Below are their reactions.
ISHOLA WILLIAMS, Retired General/Anti-Corruption Crusader
The point is this, when you go to a newsstand, you see a lot of people reading newspapers, a lot of people also watch television but most voters, especially those in the rural areas, only listen to the radio. So, they should have been using the radio to put their message across to people.
Having said this, what I noticed is that most of the political parties have only been talking about personalities or attacking personalities instead of addressing issues.
You hardly see any of the political parties talking about manifesto or programme for the people, they only attack personalities which is not good for our democracy.
It can also be observed that it is only major political parties that have money that have been visible in newspapers, television and on radio, therefore, I will like to suggest that we should have a law that will make it possible for all the presidential candidates to be given an opportunity on national television and radio to talk about their agenda for the people.
I also expect the political parties to embark on voters education awareness campaign, this will go a long way in enlightening voters about the democratic process. We should try to also do it the way it is supposed to be done by ensuring that parties dwell more on their agenda and programme of action meant for implementation its voted into office and rather than on irrelevances.
AREOYE OYEBOLA, Veteran journalist/former Editor, Daily Times
All the parties, especially the major ones, have left the substance for the shadow.
They are not discussing major issues confronting Nigeria such as the declining economy, jumbo salaries and allowances being collected by public office holders.
The political parties have lost focus, and instead of addressing relevant issues, they are attacking personalities.
None of the parties is talking about how to tackle corruption and revive the ailing economy. None of them has come out with a blueprint on how to move the nation forward. None of the parties is also talking about structural imbalance in the country. We are running a skewed and lopsided federation, and we ought to return to true federalism. This is one area I expect the parties to be talking about, but alas none of them has done so.
All the political parties are not addressing or talking about grave issues confronting Nigeria.
MOSES IHONDE, Ex-Diplomat
I expect political parties to address fundamental issues like that of religion where sharia is entrenched in the constitution, and you have Islamic offices of Grand Khadi and so on.
The question people should be asking is whether the secularity of Nigeria as enshrined in the constitution is being respected.
Our constitution today is seriously flawed, and this is one area that I expect parties to be talking about, and I expect parties to talk about how to discuss resolutions at the national confab. But it is unfortunate that political parties are not addressing or talking about some fundamental issues like these.
BOLA AKIN-JOHN, Cleric
Let me say this straight that most politicians in Nigeria don’t have interest of Nigerians at heart, and are going into politics for self-interest to enrich themselves. This is why they don’t talk about manifesto, and some of them don’t even have any at all.
Our present crop of politicians are self-serving and that is why their campaigns are not issue-based. They leave substance to dwell on trifles, and this is why they have been misleading and misinforming Nigerians.
What Nigerians should know is that you can’t give what you don’t have. These so-called politicians are bereft of ideas, and unfortunately a lot of people that listen to them are gullible. Our political parties and their leaders should learn how to get it right as it is being done in other climes.
NKEM NWEKE, Public Relations Consultant
It is a perception thing. It depends on how you look at the whole thing. I believe the parties are leading people right – they are talking about their manifestoes. Look at Lagos State, the two leading governorship candidates, Jimi Agbaje and Akin Ambode have been talking about their agenda, and why Lagosians should vote for them. Even at the federal level, both Jonathan and Buhari have been talking about their plans for Nigerians. the whole thing. I believe the parties are leading people
Although I agree that some political parties have been engaged in shadow chasing by attacking personalities, even at that, such is not peculiar to Nigeria. They also do it abroad although in a refined way.
JIDE KOSOKO, Nollywood Actor
We have got to a stage where we need to tell ourselves the truth that the kind of campaigns being carried out by the political parties is too aggressive and contain elements of hatred.
Our political parties need to get it right. They should tell Nigerians about their manifesto instead of engaging in propaganda designed to run down one another.
I have not seen a politician in Nigeria that have come out to say he want to do something unique that will transform the lives of the people, instead of that what we are witnessing are campaigns that are often full of bitterness or twist of facts. I believe we have realised that stage whereby politicians should let Nigerians know what they want to do for Nigerians rather than engaging in mudslinging.
LAOLU OGUNNIYI, Senior media fellow, Lead City University/independent film/TV producer
Our political parties are not focused. We are witnessing campaigns of acrimony, we have not been seeing issue-based manifestoes.
They should have agenda or manifesto to sell to the electorate, they should creatively give us a meaningful interpretation of their manifestoes, and the interpretation of that manifesto should be relevant to our lives.
The parties should stop campaign of calumny – they should stop passing wrong message to Nigerians.
Political parties should talk on issues that are of fundamental benefit to the nation.
THEO NWAIGBO, Lawyer/Executive Director, Movement for Popular Democracy
Our political parties need to rise above the present level of pettiness. As far as I’m concerned, I have not seen any form of dynamism in the campaigns. Issues germane to our collective growth and development as a nation are not being addressed.
The do-or-die approach being adopted by some political parties is not in the interest of our democracy.
It is sad that political parties and their supporters are now more engaged in verbal spat. They hardly talk about their programme of action.
We need to bring more life into campaigns. At most of these rallies, Nigerians are being misinformed. What Nigerians should demand each party’s manifesto.
COSMAS OKOLI, Activist
To a large extent, some political parties through the contents of their messages have been misleading the people. They have been using propaganda to whip up emotions.
However, we must also acknowledge the fact that candidates and their parties have been talking about their programme of action for the citizens.
Political parties should strive to ensure that issues that are of relevance to the well-being of the people are highlighted. They should shun campaign of hatred or misinforming the public. Issues that are fundamental in nature which are relevant to our socio-economic well being should be the focus.
MOSES ILOH, Cleric
Some political parties have been engaged in mudslinging, character assassination and all forms of pettiness rather than telling Nigerians about their manifesto which I doubt they have at all.
It is wrong for parties to engage in peddling of falsehood or propaganda aimed at rubbishing their opponents.
Let political parties tell us their plans for us. What is their agenda? It is a party that is bereft of ideas that will engage in irrelevances when there are serious issues for discourse – if there are ways to censure parties that engaged in such unethical practices they should be sanctioned.
AKOGUN LEKAN ALABI, Veteran Journalist
We pray for the best for Nigeria. Whatever and whichever way, we pray that God will take control and put Nigeria on the path of greatness.
CHUKS IKONTE, Teacher
Although our leaders always want to create the impression that we are mature and advanced nation, everything seems to point to the contrary.
Since the political parties and leaders hit the streets campaigning for candidates, from my own observation, these parties have rather been engaged in inanities – I’m yet to see anything substantial coming from them. Most of them have been misleading Nigerians, and this is not supposed to be so.
Our political leaders need to have a new orientation and imbibe new ethos if our politics is to be elevated above the present level.
IBUKUN FASANMI, Journalist
All the political parties are not leading us in terms of issue-based campaigns. They are all involved in hate messages and just hurling insults at each other daily, giving unnecessary accusations. Even the opposition are not creating their campaign issues.
ANUOLUWAPO OGUNLANA, PR practitioner
The issues being raised during campaigns of the different parties are very misleading and not helping us make the right and informed choices. If Nigerians are to vote, they wouldn’t be voting because of the issues raised at campaigns, they will be voting because of personalities and they will be making their choices based on what they feel is right.
CHIDINMA EZEOBI, Linguist
We cannot even trust the opposition with our votes, every of the political party seems to be tilting towards the same page. None of them is different. They are cajoling us with choice words and not campaign issues. It is really a sad thing that we are being misinformed about the issues that affect our lives.
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