The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, has charged Nigerians, particularly people in the state, never to allow money to be a major parameter in determining whom to vote for in the 2023 general elections.
He said that for Nigeria to move forward and improve, citizens should critically examine factors like background, love, patriotic tendencies, and competence before voting for their preferred candidates.
Speaking in Ibadan at the 2022 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Folarin warned that people could not afford another experience towards the disintegration of Nigeria, saying the unity of the nation lies on people’s strength.
“We need detribalised leaders who will objectively and realistically examine the challenges of insecurity at the helm of affairs so that people can go about their daily engagements, as evident in some states where few aspiring national leaders come from.
“To me, good governance requires leaders with adequate exposure, outstanding antecedents and experience, deep interactions with grassroots and an education system that grows and nurtures entrepreneurship.”
“It’s time we recognise that for us to have a Nigeria of our dreams, we need to be more responsible, sensitive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.”
Alli worried about impending violence that might likely come up in the forthcoming election, which was allegedly initiated by PDP in the state by defacing APC billboards across the state. Failure to desist from the act might lead to a faceoff between APC and PDP.
The chairman of the occasion, Barr. Sharafadeen Ali urged journalists to be fair and accurate in their reporting, particularly during and after the 2023 elections, which, according to him, are one of the determinants of the nation’s existence.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Oyo NUJ chairman, Com Ademola Babalola, appealed to politicians to tread softly during and after the 2023 general elections.
He disapproved of the destruction of opposition billboards throughout the state, stating that politicians should adhere to the rules and that God’s will will ultimately triumph, regardless of the circumstances.
However, he said Oyo NUJ should set up a special platform for candidates vying for various posts so that they can reveal their plans to the people after their emergence.
