By Kabir Akinola
As we draw closer to the Osun State off-season governorship election, the conversation should be centred on scrutinising the manifestos of each candidate and asking the hard questions that determine who truly deserves our votes. Instead, over the last few months, we have witnessed a disturbing wave of violence, hatred, and outright thuggery across the two major political parties contesting this election.
Osun is known as the land of the Omoluabi, a people defined by dignity, integrity, and good character. It is deeply disheartening to watch what some political actors have turned this peaceful state into.
Elections in Nigeria have always been keenly contested, and the build-up to this one made clear from the start that it would not only be fiercely fought but would also carry real weight for the general elections ahead. What no one envisaged, however, was that it would descend into violence, thuggery, and inflammatory hate speech.
At a moment when the focus should be on winning over voters and demonstrating why the public should trust them with their mandate, the two major political parties have instead thrown themselves into a campaign of hatred and hooliganism. With less than 72 hours to the election, I must say I am utterly disappointed by the manner in which both camps have conducted themselves. What we are witnessing is not two parties competing to serve the people better, it is two camps racing to outdo each other in negative, destructive politics.
Whichever party wins this election will not do so because they ran a better campaign or because the people genuinely believed in their vision. It will simply be a case of one side out-thuggering the other.
And to the elephant in the room, the supporters being used to carry out these violent acts , I have a few words for you: you will continue to be used and discarded, but posterity will judge everyone. As you continue to be used, ask yourself: beyond the material or financial gains dangled before you, is your paymaster truly protecting your interest, and the interest of the entire state?
Osun deserves better. We deserve leaders chosen on the strength of their ideas, not the strength of their thugs.