Politician cautions social media influencers against unguided utterances

A prominent politician and philanthropist in Gombe State, Abubakar Mu’azu Hassan, has called on social media influencers across the state to conduct their political activities with dignity, respect, decorum and sense of responsibility. The politician polarly known as, Habu Muazu, made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with social media influencers across party lines […]

A prominent politician and philanthropist in Gombe State, Abubakar Mu’azu Hassan, has called on social media influencers across the state to conduct their political activities with dignity, respect, decorum and sense of responsibility.

The politician polarly known as, Habu Muazu, made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with social media influencers across party lines held at his residence in Gombe.

He expressed concern over the rising trend of verbal abuse and personal attacks among political actors in the state.

The meeting which brought together political actors and social media influencers who spoke on local radio stations, and other online forums, deliberated on the rising tension and use of inflammatory language in the state’s political space.

Mu’azu emphasised that politics is a noble venture that must be conducted according to established rules and guided by respect, humility and moral integrity.

He urged them to work towards a just, peaceful, and morally sound political culture to future generations, in line with religious values that emphasise humility and uprightness.

Habu Mu’azu cautioned that the growing trend of personal attacks, hate speech, and divisive propaganda only weakens democracy and distracts leaders from the pursuit of good governance.

He, therefore, urged political supporters and media commentators to promote messages of peace, unity, and tolerance during their engagements.

The politician also called on emerging politicians to learn from political figures, saying that senior politicians often share common interests that transcend party lines.

According to him, when matters of mutual benefit arise, top politicians usually set aside their political differences to pursue the shared goals.

Religious leaders who spoke at the event, an Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Naziru Idris and Rev. Father Joseph Shinga, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), jointly called on politicians to act with the fear of Allah and allow religious teachings to guide both their public utterances and social media communications.

The clerics reminded politicians that everyone will ultimately render an account before Allah for their words and actions, especially those made in the public domain.

They commended Habu Mu’azu for taking the initiative to promote moral, responsible, and inclusive politics in Gombe State.

Other key stakeholders, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Faruk Mu’azu, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Alhassan Mu’azu and Gombe State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Buhari Abdullahi, jointly urged politicians to operate within the confines of the law and maintain peace and order throughout the forthcoming political campaigns.

At the end of the event, the over 250 participants featuring representatives of social media influencers from all major political parties in the state, collectively pledged to sustain peace, civility, and lawful engagement throughout the upcoming election season in the state.