Politics
THE presidential aspirant of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Yakubu Kingsley, has urged Nigerians to refrain from do-or-die politics as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections.
Kingsley, who made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, urged national prayers, political tolerance and peaceful democratic engagement.
“Politics should never become a reason for violence, hatred or destruction. No political ambition is worth the life of a single Nigerian.
“I equally make a patriotic appeal to all presidential aspirants and political leaders across party lines to place Nigeria above personal ambition.
“I respectfully call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and every other presidential aspirant and political stakeholder, regardless of political party to conduct ourselves in ways that strengthen our democracy.
He also urged them to preserve national unity and promote peaceful coexistence before, during, and after the elections.
“History will not merely remember who won elections; it will remember those who helped preserve the unity, peace and democratic stability of our nation.”
Kingsley, who is challenging the May 25 presidential primary election of the PRP that produced former Gov. Donald Duke of Cross River, urged all the contestants to express political disagreements with civility.
“I further call upon all presidential aspirants, irrespective of political
affiliation, to prevail upon their supporters, campaign organisations and spokespersons to exercise utmost restraint in their public utterances.
“They should firmly discourage the use of inflammatory, abusive or provocative statements capable of inciting hatred, deepening divisions or unnecessarily overheating the polity.”
According to him, elections are not a do-or-die affair; they are a constitutional and democratic process through which the people freely choose their leaders.
“Every aspirant bears a moral responsibility to ensure that the conduct of his or her followers promotes peace, tolerance and national cohesion before, during and after the elections,” he said.
Kingsley said Nigeria’s democracy must never become a battlefield.
“It must remain a peaceful contest of ideas, competence, integrity and vision,” he said.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, civil society organisations, the media, among others, to discharge their constitutional and moral responsibilities with absolute neutrality, professionalism and patriotism.(NAN)
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Tags: Do or Die politics PRP Presidential Candidate Yakubu Kingsley