With the official commencement of the campaigns for the impending 2023 national election, many Nigerians are beginning to understand the huge make or break impact that the impending elections will have on the country. As such, numerous Nigerians have shown their preparedness towards participating, especially in the Presidential election. With Labour Party’s Peter Obi, Former Vice President of the Federation, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, the front runners of the impending Presidential election, one pivotal narrative that has made rounds remains the need for Nigerians to also fuel more focus on the local elections, so as to prompt a much needed change in the social and political scenes.
With an awareness of less focus that has been placed on local elections overtime, Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing has recently urged all Nigerians of the need to pay more attention to the local elections in their domain during the 2023 national election and other successive elections. He said that it was rather important to focus their attention on the elections in Local Government Areas, Local Council, State House of Assembly and Federal Lawmakers than centrally pumping all their attentions to the Presidential election alone.
Impending election posed to shape Nigeria’s future.
Present at the annual lecture of The Niche, the theme this year was “2023 Elections and the Future of Nigeria’s Democracy”, which held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos State, the Minister admitted that the impending election is perfectly posed to shape Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political development for coming years, and thus the need for Nigerians to show apathy and vote for candidates that will ensure stability in all sectorial spheres of the country. Present at this event were prominent personalities like Tanko Yakasai, a First Republican politician, Former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, former Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, amongst others.
Moving on, Babatunde Fashola noted that it was important to pay intense attention to the local elections, as these local elective offices were most saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that they enjoy dividends of democracy, and such focus must not be placed centrally for the Presidential election alone. He also asserted that contrary to the oppositions and insinuations making rounds, the democratic system of government offers more to Nigerians than any other governmental system that can be adopted.
Media must focus their reportage on issues affecting the country.
The Minister added that by being saddled with the responsibility of electing viable candidates for the numerous political offices, the impending election offers Nigerians with the opportunity to further enhance their nation’s building process and strengthening the country’s democracy. He however stressed that the media and practitioners must base their reportage prominently on the problems that are affecting the populace, rather than give all headlines and spotlights to front running candidates of the impending general election.
On the media reportage, he further stated that problems in the educational sector, healthcare, security and economy and measures for improving them must be amplified. As such, he urged the media to pay attention to the issues that affect majority of the voters. He also called on politicians to avoid negative rhetoric’s that could cause disrepute to the country on global stages, stating that elections could still be won without aiming digs at other candidates.
Fashola urged candidates to speak on issues and their proposed solutions.
A two time Governor of Lagos State, Fashola also criticized politicians who exaggerate Nigeria’s problems to score sympathy from voters. He stated that candidates, instead of disrobing the country, should keep to speaking on issues affecting the country and their means for solving these issues. He also noted that candidates must inspire hope among the citizens rather than exploit every opportunity of putting the country under the radar so as to appeal to certain groups of voters.
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It’s crucial to pay close attention to local elections because they are primarily responsible for securing democracy’s dividends. This focus should not be centered solely on the presidential election.
In contrast to the criticisms and rumors spreading, the democratic form of government provides Nigerians with more benefits than any other option.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the most prominent candidates in the upcoming general election, the media and practitioners should highlight the issues that are most pressing to the public.
Most of the developed countries in the world always base their campaign on issue base because with this their citizen will know what the politician have for them if they voted them in an election but in Nigeria is another way round.
Every election should be focused on either local or general election they are people we elect to represent us. And at of that local election it should be focus on well because they are near us in our country than the general ones like president, governor. This local post they are easily to contact than the high ones
I agree with the minister of works and housing on the importance of ensuring we pay maximum attention to the local elections that take place in our environments. From the local government elections down to the presidential elections, we must play a cognitive role in ensuring we all participate fully in the elections.
Our minister has really said something so important our presidential candidate needs to tell the citizenry what they would do to profer solutions to all what is on ground,so the nation building would be done effectively.
As every votes matter, every post is also pivotal. We need to scrutinize and be conscientious of who we vote for starting from the local level, if we are truly hoping for better development.
A growing number of Nigerians are coming to the realization that the forthcoming elections would have a significant influence, one that might either make or break the country.
One of the most important ideas that has been going around is that Nigerians should put more of their attention on the upcoming local elections in order to bring about the significant change that is required in both the social and political settings.
the necessity of paying a greater amount of attention to the local elections that take place within their sphere of influence during the national election in 2023 and other elections that will follow.
Regardless which election it is, we must play a cognitive role in ensuring we all participate fully in the elections.
The upcoming election is in a position to significantly influence Nigeria’s economical and political development over the next few years.
In spite of widespread claims to the contrary and widespread insinuations, the democratic form of government actually provides Nigerians with a greater number of benefits than any other form of administration that can be implemented.
Candidates for public office have a responsibility to citizens to instill optimism in them rather than taking advantage of every opportunity to bring the nation into the spotlight in order to win over certain categories of voters.
It is important for politicians to refrain from using negative rhetoric that could bring the country’s reputation into disrepute on international forums. They should also remind voters that elections can be won without making personal attacks on the other candidates.
Yes is very important that we pay attention local election, but not only local, we need to pay more attention both state and federal. Everything of the election in 2023 should be payed attention to. We are tired of the country, we need a better country
it is important to pay intense attention to the local elections, as these local elective offices were most saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that they enjoy dividends of democracy, and such focus must not be placed
It is crucial that politicians avoid from employing statements that could damage their nation’s standing in international forums. Additionally, they want to remind people that winning elections does not require making derogatory remarks about other candidates.
This forthcoming 2023 election will either make or mar the country called Nigeria.It is well
I strongly hope that this forthcoming 2023 election will not less to bloodshed and the needful will be done.