Follow Us on Google
From Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
The former Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has warned politicians against placing personal ambitions and partisan interests above national unity, cautioning that character assassination, derogatory remarks and inflammatory political rhetoric could threaten the country’s peace and undermine the peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Shagari, who made the statement on Saturday, urged political leaders and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, mutual respect and responsible political engagement as political activities gather momentum ahead of the elections.
He expressed concern over what he described as the increasingly hostile tone of political discourse in the country, stressing that political contests should focus on ideas, policies, leadership credentials and development programmes rather than personal attacks and attempts to tarnish the reputations of opponents.
According to him, political differences should not be allowed to degenerate into personal hostility capable of dividing communities, deepening ethnic and religious suspicions or creating unnecessary tension among citizens.
“Politicians must learn to play the game with decorum, maturity and a high sense of responsibility. Democracy thrives on constructive engagement, healthy competition and the presentation of alternative ideas, not on derogatory statements, character assassination and deliberate attempts to malign political opponents,” he said.
Other News
The former minister further warned that reckless political utterances, particularly from influential political figures, could provoke supporters, heighten political tension and set the country on a dangerous path of division and instability.
He urged political parties, candidates, campaign organisations and their spokespersons to make governance, economic recovery, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure and employment the centrepiece of their campaigns instead of engaging in personal attacks that offer no meaningful solutions to the challenges confronting Nigerians.
“Politicians should remember that elections were temporary contests, while Nigeria remained a collective heritage that must be protected by all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds or religious beliefs.”
He called on political stakeholders to demonstrate statesmanship by placing the country’s peace, unity and stability above personal ambitions and partisan interests.
Shagari, who also chaired the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), stressed that no political ambition was worth sacrificing the country’s hard-earned peace and unity.
He added that the strength of Nigeria’s democracy would ultimately be measured not by the bitterness of political contests but by the maturity, civility and patriotism demonstrated by those seeking public office.
