by Joan Davou of our News and Current Affairs Department
It is no longer news that political campaigns for the 2023 general elections have begun in earnest.
But long before it started, the issue of whether the political actors will play by the rule had elicited public interest, concerns, debates, and arguments of national proportion.
As it is, the issue has continued to raise dust in the country judging from the quantum of uncomplimentary and inflammatory remarks said to have attributed to some political actors in the name of the campaign
The need for caution and balancing concerns have been expressed in relation to national unity, fairness, justice, equity, peace, and stability of the country.
This is particularly so as the 2023 general election is considered to be the most defining election in the history of Nigeria given the high level of interest it has generated among Nigerians particularly the youths
With its peculiarity and sensitiveness, tensions are bound to rise especially with the humongous amount of youth participation and engagement the country has witnessed with regard to the elections.
Political disagreements are a necessary part of democracy but taking such differences to a level of inflicting injuries on each other in a barbaric way, cursing each other out on social media, dishing out hate speeches, and destroying public property, is certainly outside the scope of democratic campaign
When citizens engage in political brigandage not only does the democratic culture suffer in the face of such behavior, the sensibilities of the nation’s law-abiding citizens are assaulted.
Therefore as political campaigns get underway, political parties, Government, supporters, and other stakeholders should make tolerance their watch-word
They should shun political brigandage of any sort under any guise.
In the words of a French philosopher and author, Bernard-Henri Levy,
Democracy is a passion, a long difficult walk hence, political tolerance and accommodation of other views are imperative.
Nigerians and indeed Plateau citizens can not afford to do otherwise as they campaign for candidates of their choice ahead of the 2023 elections
News Commentary: 2023 Campaigns and the Burden of Political Tolerance
Written by Joey Shekwonuzhibo on October 17, 2022
by Joan Davou of our News and Current Affairs Department
It is no longer news that political campaigns for the 2023 general elections have begun in earnest.
But long before it started, the issue of whether the political actors will play by the rule had elicited public interest, concerns, debates, and arguments of national proportion.
As it is, the issue has continued to raise dust in the country judging from the quantum of uncomplimentary and inflammatory remarks said to have attributed to some political actors in the name of the campaign
The need for caution and balancing concerns have been expressed in relation to national unity, fairness, justice, equity, peace, and stability of the country.
This is particularly so as the 2023 general election is considered to be the most defining election in the history of Nigeria given the high level of interest it has generated among Nigerians particularly the youths
With its peculiarity and sensitiveness, tensions are bound to rise especially with the humongous amount of youth participation and engagement the country has witnessed with regard to the elections.
Political disagreements are a necessary part of democracy but taking such differences to a level of inflicting injuries on each other in a barbaric way, cursing each other out on social media, dishing out hate speeches, and destroying public property, is certainly outside the scope of democratic campaign
When citizens engage in political brigandage not only does the democratic culture suffer in the face of such behavior, the sensibilities of the nation’s law-abiding citizens are assaulted.
Therefore as political campaigns get underway, political parties, Government, supporters, and other stakeholders should make tolerance their watch-word
They should shun political brigandage of any sort under any guise.
In the words of a French philosopher and author, Bernard-Henri Levy,
Democracy is a passion, a long difficult walk hence, political tolerance and accommodation of other views are imperative.
Nigerians and indeed Plateau citizens can not afford to do otherwise as they campaign for candidates of their choice ahead of the 2023 elections
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