By Ebere Agozie
An APC Chieftain, Princess Nikky Onyeri, the National Convener, Forum of APC Female Aspirants 2027 (FAFAN), says democracy should remain about the people’s choice, not sentiment or coercion.
Onyeri, who said this at a press briefing frowned at what she described as ethnic politics played by some politicians across the country on Thursday in Abuja.
She was talking on the backdrop of a purported message sent by a group called Igbo Elders Consultative Forum asking Ndi Igbo in Abuja to vote for the candidate of the SDP for AMAC chairmanship in the scheduled Feb. 21 council elections.
She said that they recently got wind that some groups of people are encouraging the Igbos to vote only for the Igbo candidate of the SDP which she described as undemocratic.
“The message being circulated online by the group said that Ndi Igbo in Abuja have endorsed the candidate of the SDP for AMAC chairmanship.
“We condemn such brand of politics, and let me make it clear, there is no such thing as Igbo stakeholders coming together to endorse an Igbo candidate.
“Nigerians should vote candidates of their choice and not base their preference on religion or tribe.
“Therefore, the credibility of any election will depend on the collective resolve of Nigerians to freely vote candidates of their choice.
“We at the APC are concerned about transparency, electoral credibility, and accountability in all election processes.”
She noted that democracy survives not by force or manipulation, but by credibility.
“If elections are not free, fair, and transparent, the very foundation of governance is already built on very shaky grounds.
“This is terrible, and is not politics. No group has the right to endorse any individual or group in the name of Ndigbo in Abuja.
“Who gave them the mandate to speak for Igbo? Who are the Igbos that were consulted before this decision was reached?”
Onyeri noted that when political pluralism is overtly or covertly removed from electoral politics, authoritarianism creeps in, and diminishes the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.
“Citizens must also reflect deeply on their choices. Tribal loyalty and religious sentiment must never outweigh reason, evidence, and character assessment. Democracy demands active and informed participation.
“We advise the electorate to vote for leaders with competence, integrity and capacity to address the challenges of Nigeria.
“We have to prioritise the interest of the people and nation above other ethnic and religious considerations that would not add value to the country.
“Nigerians must jettison the temptation of voting along religious or tribal lines during general elections.”
She said that politics of sentiment is responsible for the challenges the country is facing today, and that politics along such sentiments have clearly not benefited the country.
“Voters should rather focus on choosing solutions-oriented candidates, who would tackle the economic, security and other challenges of the country for the benefit of citizens.
“Any politician using religion and ethnicity as tools to seek elective positions is an enemy of the people, and such candidates and their parties should be rejected.
“We should remain committed to the tenets of true democracy to promote unity, peace, and development, while praying that the elections would mark a new beginning for AMAC and Nigeria in general.”
She said the political climate in Nigeria has become such that political brinkmanship has resulted in political conversations that leave the people whose welfare should be the thrust of the pursuit of power, holding the short end of the stick.
“In the face of all these, democracy still remains the system without a viable option, if the people are to derive the maximum benefit from their sovereign nationhood.
“The exciting thing about representative government is the competition for the right to win the people’s mandate. The jostle for political power often comes with a lot of excitement.”
She urged voters to shun violence while assisting security agencies to ensure peaceful conduct of the chairmanship elections.
“Security agencies remain committed to ensuring the peace and security of lives and property but we need the cooperation of all stakeholders to succeed and make the country peaceful.
“Nigeria cannot progress until critical stakeholders drop sentiment, and genuinely address issues affecting public governance.
“Ethnic and religious political campaigns must be discouraged while religious groups and leaders should stop holding the people to ransom,” she concluded. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
