“Put Emotions Aside!” — GOMEP-NG President Sends Strong Message to Nigerians Over Political Criticism

By Our Correspondent

The National President of the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG), Comrade Akpovoke Otiti, has urged Nigerians, especially youths, to rethink the way they criticise the government and political leaders.

Otiti called on citizens to move away from emotional and sentiment-driven reactions and instead base their views on facts, evidence and logic.

In a statement, the GOMEP-NG President stressed that while Nigerians have every right to question government policies and demand accountability from political leaders, such criticism should be guided by verifiable information rather than hatred or personal sentiments.

According to him, the future of Nigeria cannot be effectively shaped through emotionally charged arguments.

“We need to check our emotions at the door and think logically. No matter how emotional we get, emotions have no place in the discourse about Nigeria’s future.

“Let’s put sentiment aside and be realistic. We must learn to criticise government and the political class based on facts and evidence, not hatred or emotional reactions,” he said.

Otiti warned that political differences and personal sentiments could easily overshadow meaningful conversations about the country’s development if Nigerians fail to approach national issues objectively.

He noted that citizens in a democracy have a responsibility to scrutinise those in authority and demand accountability, but maintained that such scrutiny becomes more effective when it is backed by facts, evidence and a clear understanding of the issues involved.

The GOMEP-NG President also expressed concern over the growing influence of emotionally charged narratives and misinformation, particularly on social media and other digital platforms.

He urged Nigerians to exercise greater responsibility when commenting on national issues, warning against the spread of claims that are not supported by credible evidence.

Otiti called for a culture of constructive criticism in which citizens can disagree with government policies without allowing political hatred or personal sentiments to dominate the conversation.

He maintained that Nigeria’s challenges require practical solutions and responsible public discourse, stressing that the country’s future depends on citizens who are willing to engage national issues with reason, facts and objectivity.

He therefore urged Nigerians, particularly the younger generation, to make the national interest a priority and embrace fact-based conversations capable of contributing to better governance and national development.