The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini has urged political office seekers to shun campaigns of calumny ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Making the clarion call on Monday in his welcome address at resumption of plenary after recess on Monday, Prof. Kunini appealed to all contestants to eschew politics of bitterness, which is capable of violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.
According to him, for the present democratic dispensation to thrive and bloom, politicians should avoid using the youth as political thugs and cannon fodders to cause mayhem during electioneering campaigns.
“My distinguished colleagues, during the period of the recess, electioneering campaigns officially commenced in earnest in readiness for the 2023 general elections.
“I wish to call on all political office seekers to embark on issue-based campaigns, rather than resorting to hate speech that may lead to violence with attendant consequences.
“Elections all over the world are the only civilized and democratic means of choosing leaders; ours should not be different from the world’s best practices”, he admonished.
The Speaker further challenged his fellow state legislators to appraise themselves as elected representatives of the people by asking a pertinent question: “What has been our impact on our people during the period of the ninth Assembly?”
“This is very cardinal, especially given our roles as the elected representatives of the teeming populace of Taraba State with the view to making amends where necessary before our tenure expires in June 2023”, he said.
