There can be no social re-engineering and peaceful conduct of elections in the country unless the governance environment is adjusted to develop more appreciation for effective political communication.
Delivering a paper, titled, Effective political communication as a veritable tool for social re-engineering and peaceful electoral process, president, Nigerian Political Science Association (NIPSA), Dr Hassan Saliu, said, at a book launch, Lest we forget: Kwara Political Revolution, a broadcaster’s account in Ilorin on Wednesday, that Nigerian politicians should stop talking to themselves and engage more with the citizens.
Dr Saliu, who is of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, also said that a peaceful electoral process cannot take place without effective political communication, adding that effective political communication can reverse a high level of political apathy in the country.
The university don, who said that there is a difference between successful and effective political communication, however, added that “in Nigeria, we are not at home with the need for effective political communication.
“Examples are too many in our country that suggest ineffective political communication. These are: comparing bandits with auto spare parts sellers; we are going for the Chinese loans whatever may be the reservations expressed by the citizens; categorization of citizens as irrational elements etc”, he said.
Dr Saliu, thus, said that communication has to be right and correct before any social engineering can take place, adding that a peaceful electoral process cannot take place without effective political communication.
“One notes the failure of the INEC to communicate to Nigerians on voting procedures until a few days to the 2019 presidential elections as one of the reasons for the number of invalid votes. One also recounts the shoddy arrangements made by the INEC in educating Nigerians as a factor responsible for the low voter’s turnout recorded during the election. To change the tide, all the critical stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral process should brace up for the 2023 general elections.
The university don also canvassed effective political communication among the political class, saying that, “Effective political communication make politics more attractive to technocrats and youth. It can bind the government to the people. It can lighten up the governance environment. One argues that the culture of effective political communication is overall good for social re-engineering and peaceful electoral process”.
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