The Coalition of Registered Political Parties CRPP, has called on members and governorship candidates in Ogun State to stop personal attacks and focus on issues that directly affect the people.
The National Coordinator of the coalition, Oginni Olaposi, made the call at a press conference in Abeokuta, on Monday saying, political campaigns should be centred on candidates’ manifestos, programmes and plans for the development of the state.
Olaposi said the coalition was “highly disappointed” with what he described as the direction of campaigns by some political actors in the state, particularly the emphasis on candidates’ ancestry, family backgrounds and indigeneity.
“We believe that politics should not be a rule or dire fears. Politics is for service,” he said.
“As a matter of fact, we are highly disappointed that most of the political gladiators that we have in the state today, they did not learn from history of the past and especially what happened in pre-election.
“The personal attack on family issues and historical background of different political party gladiators and candidates is unacceptable. We condemn in totality that our campaign must be issue-based.”
According to him, voters should be presented with clear answers on how candidates intend to improve the lives of residents rather than being subjected to arguments over their genealogy or places of origin.
“The issue where political party will come to campaign and they have nothing to show to our state people about their manifestos rather than talking about the ancestry or indigeneity of a candidate is condemnable,” he said.
“Politics is not a child’s play. It is about service to the people.”
Olaposi urged governorship candidates to explain their plans for education, economic development, poverty reduction, youth empowerment and industrialisation, noting Ogun’s proximity to Lagos and its potential as an economic hub.
“What the Ogun State electorate is expecting from contestants is to tell us what they have in stock for Ogun State people,” he said.
“We want candidates to come on board to the campaign terrain to tell us what they want to do for our people in terms of education, in terms of economic recovery and looking at the frontal position of Ogun State to Lagos State. How Ogun State will be the most viable state in Nigeria.”
He added: “Tell us what you have done in the past. Tell us what you are going to do. Convince the electorate what you are ready to offer us in Ogun State.”
The CRPP coordinator also cautioned candidates against rhetoric that could heighten political tensions and potentially lead to violence.
Responding to a question on whether candidates’ backgrounds should be scrutinised, Olaposi said the coalition was more concerned about what candidates intended to offer the electorate.
“It is only your parents that can tell you where and what you are. It is only for the parent of individual that can say whether I’m the father or I’m the mother,” he said.
“So, we are not interested. So, where you come from, it is the responsibility of your parents and that is not for us at the political space to debate. What we are interested in is what you want to offer and the Ogun State electorate, they will decide.”
