“Referen from Campaign of Calumny: A Call for Political Maturity Among Youths”

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Referen from Campaign of Calumny: A Call for Political Maturity Among Youths”

By Umar Aliyu 

Columnist & Advocate of Progressive Politics.

In the swirling heat of political seasons, it’s easy to get caught up in the drama, the noise, the social media banter, and unfortunately, the campaign of calumny. One cannot help but notice the disturbing trend in our political landscape where young people, who ought to be the torchbearers of issue-based politics, have instead become merchants of slander, peddlers of insult, and warriors of misinformation. It's high time we referen—yes, retreat—from this toxic approach and reset our compass toward mature, constructive political engagement.

Politics Shouldn't Be a Mud-Wrestling Match

Let’s be clear: politics was never designed to be a battleground for name-calling and tribal slurs. It's not a stage for calling someone a thief, a cultist, or a failure without verifiable facts. The essence of democracy lies in presenting competing ideas, weighing policies, and choosing the best amongst many. If you truly believe in your candidate, don’t sell hatred—sell hope. Don't drag opponents—uplift your own. Show the electorate what makes your candidate better: their track record, their character, their vision, their policies. Not who they allegedly dated in school or what they wore at a wedding.

Youths: The Real Power, The Real Change

With over 60% of Nigeria’s population under 30, the youth hold incredible power. But power without direction is chaos. Instead of being used as political pawns or foot soldiers of smear campaigns, youths should lead the charge for a new political order—one driven by ideas, policy debates, and critical thinking. When we allow ourselves to be used as verbal hitmen for politicians, we only further entrench the same system we claim to want to change.

From Emotion to Evidence-Based Politics.

Here’s a revolutionary idea: let every political aspirant sign a pledge—a public, documented pledge detailing what they plan to achieve in year one, year two, year three, and year four of their term. Let these pledges be published, debated, and tracked by the people. That way, we shift our focus from emotional blackmail to measurable governance. Imagine how different our elections would be if candidates were judged by their performance metrics instead of their propaganda machines.

A Call to Rethink, Refocus, and Reform.

It’s not too late. We can still change the narrative. We can shift from being praise singers and slanderers to policy influencers and governance watchdogs. Let’s be bold enough to question manifestos, challenge inconsistencies, and celebrate results—not rhetoric. Let’s stop the politics of bitterness and begin the politics of better ideas.

As we approach another election cycle, I dare every youth reading this: don’t join the mob—lead the movement. A movement for issue-based politics. A movement for dignity. A movement that will outlive hashtags and headlines. Remember, the names you call today might be the bridges you need tomorrow. Let’s build, not burn.

Referen from campaign of calumny. Return to the politics of purpose.