Activist Advises Politicians Against Overheating Polity

A human rights activist, Mr Sam Urama, has advised politicians not to overheat the polity with their actions and utterances as they campaign for votes.
Urama gave the advice less than 20 days to the general elections in an interview with newsmen in Nsukka, Enugu State, yesterday.
He pleaded with politicians to always consider the interest of the nation in their actions and utterances as they campaigned for votes.
‘‘For the country to have violence-free, credible, free and fair elections, political gladiators in the country must exercise restraint in their actions and utterances.
‘‘To win an election should not be seen as a ‘do-or-die’ affair since only God crows a king.
‘‘Politicians must consider national interest first by putting all their selfish interests behind and show high level of patriotism in order to move the country forward,’’ he said.
Urama said candidates, who are vying for elective positions, should rather be telling Nigerians what they would do if voted into office.
‘‘But it is unfortunate that instead of politicians to be busy on issue-based campaigns, what we see are allegations and counter-allegations.
‘‘Nigeria must be peaceful and remain one indivisible country for anyone to be president, governor, national and state assembly lawmakers.
‘‘Everybody has a sacrifice to make because we have no other country we can call our own, we remain a foreigner in any country of the world we visit,’’ he said.
He urged Nigerians not to vote for candidates who would want to win election by all means.
‘‘Vote for candidates who, by their actions and utterances, believe that power belongs to the people and not those who want to buy votes and cause violence in the polity.
‘‘For the upcoming general elections to move the country to the next level, we must vote for right candidates irrespective of their tribe, religion, language and political affiliations,’’ he said.
Urama urged the security agencies and the INEC officials to resist any attempt by candidates or political parties to use them to subvert the will of the people.