With Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
There is no doubt that campaign focus has shifted to the social media, which is about the most powerful electioneering tool in recent time. But, I have watched with dismay the new campaign trend on social media. Media aides and supporters of politicians seeking elective offices have been flaunting videos of campaign venues on social media platforms to showcase such politicians’ popularity or illusion of large following. This new dimension in electioneering has thrown up the obvious; Kwara electorate are yet to come to terms with the real essence of campaign. The campaign season in the state is characterised by jamboree and sloganeering. The common feature in the videos is a cluster of people(mostly rented) dancing to political jingles/songs and chanting slogans. As seen in most of the videos the candidates were barely given the chance to speak on their parties’ manifestoes and agenda as sloganeering by the electorate drown out their voices. It is pathetic that the electorate have failed to understand that campaign is meant for the candidates to showcase to members of the public what they are made of and what plans they have for their constituencies. It is a time for the electorate to weigh the options before them to determine in whose favour they will cast their votes. Understandably, songs and jingles are major part of campaign process, but what one is harping on is that the electorate should not be carried away by the entertainment that comes with the electioneering. Kwarans have to stop focusing on the side attractions and focus on substance of matters during political campaigns. They need to understand that leaders should not be elected based on creative jingles or slogans spreading like wildfire, rather they should vote in leaders who have clear ideologies and policies aimed at transforming their individual and collective lives. They are expected to task the candidates on the strategic plans they hope to deploy to turn around the economy of the state in their various capacities if elected into office. Kwarans must x-ray promises by candidates to ascertain if they are achievable.
The electorate should demand for issue based campaign because a vote for any candidate is a vote for their future. This is because the development of any state is largely dependent on the quality of its leadership. Issue – based campaigns will afford the voting populace to compare the ideologies of candidates in order to decide whom to vote Hence, voters in the state must shine their eyes well and elect people who are ready and prepared for leadership roles and this they can determine through robust campaigns. The campaigns should no longer be business as usual, which is carnival like, rather Kwarans should be accorded purposeful electioneering by political parties in the interest of the development of the state. The electorate need to realise that they can not afford to take a step that will plunge them into a life of misery as a result bad leadership. Kwarans should ensure that they reject candidates who have no clear -cut programmes or manifesto, at the forthcoming polls.
In addition, the campaign rallies should not be turned to battle ground where violence is unleashed. The campaign should not be an avenue for intolerable statements/hate speech, which could trigger violent clash among supporters of political parties. Candidates seeking elective positions must desist from character defamation and abuse, but dwell on how to implement their parties’ manifestoes. Campaigns must address various questions on public policy.
Importantly, parties must abide by the guidelines on political rallies and campaigns issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as outlined by the Electoral Act. Part of a section of the Act reads:”Abusive , intemperate, slanderous or base language or insinuations or innuendoes designed or likely to provoke violent reaction or emotions shall not be employed or used in political campaigns. ”
Also, the electorate must not sell their birthright for a morsel of porridge. They must not sell their conscience for financial gain in order to secure their future. They should rise against immediate monetary gains by not accepting money to vote. It is known fact that vote buying and selling is fast becoming a norm on the political scene but it is antithesis to democratic process. Kwarans must guard against this to instal good leadership in the forthcoming elections. A lot of politicians do not have anything to offer other than money. We need a Kwara that we can work for everyone and can be proud of. This we can achieve only through good leadership.
