Money Politics: Between Vote Buyers And Vote Sellers, Who Are The Real Criminals? |PoliFocus

This image is for illustration purposes 

Ekiti gubernatorial election had come and gone but some of the happenings that were witnessed during the poll are still generating controversies, but this publication will be limited to the 'vote buying and selling aspect'.

In the history of democracy in Nigeria, politicians have been wooing the electorates before and during the election but what we witness in Ekiti was barbaric and ignoble. Politicians were caught on tape sharing money to the would-be electorates, the monies ranging between N3,000 to N5,000.



The two notable parties were fully involved. People's Democratic Party, PDP who still has the incumbent but lost out in the poll was alleged to have shared N3,000 - N4,000 to all Ekiti citizens and even civil servants got theirs but was later removed from their next salary because the Governor's preferred candidate, Prof Olusola Eleka lost out. When the rumour of the deduction filtered in, I called some civil servants that I know,, though some debunked it but over 90% of them said they were deducted but the reason was not made to them officially.

On the part of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, report has it that they distributed N5,000 each. Even BBC posted one of the videos where people were rushing to have theirs. All these disgraceful acts were cut on tape, they are in public domain.

It's no longer news that, Dr Kayode Fayemi of APC was declared the winner at the poll. But the concern of well-meaning Nigerians is the concomitant cum ripple effect of this utopia act on the general elections slated for next year.

Going by the high level of poverty in the land, only people with firm decision will say no to an 'harmless business' that will yield an average of N5,000 within few hours. But should we see this as an excuse for vote selling?

SERAP few days ago dragged the INEC to court over its inability to prosecute the people that bought votes during the same Ekiti election... Shouldn't we criminalize vote buying and selling???

Ask people who sold their 'future' due to a meagre money if they can spend the money for the next four years? The reality is that, most of them will finish it within hours of collection. This is nothing but a call to reason, we should be more focused on our future, developmental drives than turning ourselves to biblical 'Esau' that based his life on present situation than 'tomorrow'

Vote selling will not only make you to vote but will withdraw your voice and right from you because the reality is that, you have being bought for the next four years, at least.
Do you prefer well equipped and functional hospitals, good schools, stables electricity, good roads, plus other social amenities to 'money that can't move you out of poverty'? If your answer is yes, they we should all kick out the shameful act.

INEC in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies should start arresting all they will be involved in this shady process to make mockery of our democracy, both vote sellers and buyers and drag them to court, this will in no small measure bring sanity back into the system.

This is a bad development and most be condemned by all because it poses a great danger to our nascent democracy.





___________________________________________
If found interesting, don't forget to share the post with your friends and loved ones.

For More Updates Cum News, Please Follow Us On Twitter & Kindly Like Our Facebook Page As Well.

Send us Updates, Gists, Gossips, News & many more using dammygtnet@gmail.com

Related Posts Widget