2027: Ibadan indigenes task Oyo politicians on issue-based campaigns

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, on Sunday, urged politicians in Oyo State to make their campaigns issue-based and stop attacking, abusing or calling one another names ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council also urged political parties and their candidates to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes and ideas capable of addressing the challenges confronting the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

The CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, made the call in a statement issued by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Olomide, in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajewole said political campaigns should provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their vision and plans to the electorate rather than becoming platforms for personal attacks and name-calling.

He said, “Our politicians should make their campaigns issue-based. They should stop attacking one another, abusing themselves and calling each other names.

“Politics should not be about abusing or pulling down your opponents. It should be about telling the people what you intend to do for them if given the opportunity to serve,” he said.

The CCII President-General urged candidates seeking elective positions in 2027 to clearly explain their programmes and policies to the electorate, particularly how they intend to address the challenges facing the state and the country.

“The people want to know what you will do differently. Tell them your plans for Oyo. Tell them what you will do to improve education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment and the economy.

“Those seeking national offices should also tell Nigerians what they will do to move the country forward. Let the people hear your ideas and compare your programmes instead of listening to attacks and name-calling,” he added.

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Ajewole stressed that political differences should not be allowed to destroy the bonds of unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Oyo.

He said candidates and their supporters should exercise restraint in their public statements, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could create unnecessary tension and distract the electorate from issues that directly affect their lives.

“We must remember that after the elections, we will still remain brothers and sisters and we will continue to live together. Political disagreements should not make us enemies.

“We, therefore, appeal to all our politicians to conduct their campaigns with maturity, decorum and respect for one another. Let the campaign be about ideas, programmes, policies and what each candidate can offer the people.

“Politicians should caution their handlers, especially their media aides, social media handlers and bloggers, against attacking perceived political opponents. Political differences are normal, particularly as we approach the 2027 elections, but such differences should not degenerate into personal attacks, insults, character assassination or the spread of inflammatory content.

“I urge politicians to prevail on their media teams and supporters to focus on issues, policies and constructive engagement, rather than using the media and social media to attack or ridicule their opponents. This will promote healthy political discourse and help preserve peace and unity in Oyo,” he stated.

The CCII President-General said voters deserved the opportunity to make informed decisions based on the records, programmes and vision of candidates, rather than on insults and personal attacks.

Ajewole further called on political parties, campaign organisations and supporters to place the interests of Oyo and Nigeria above personal and partisan considerations, urging them to promote peaceful and issue-based political engagement throughout the electioneering period.