Main Page2019: ELECTION AND VOTE BUYING
By: Bello Shehu Shuni
The elections and vote buying has been a nation wide ‘sin-song’
across the length and breadth of the country as public commentators in
local and international media as well as political analysts, scholars
have had a field day in the print media, on social media, in beer
parlour, market squares, in offices, in sports and recreational centers,
in other public places such other popular muster points have been
holding conversations on the topic.
Dan F Hahn, American political writer said that: “Every decade provides its own example of power defining and naming in the world of politics.” A word has been entered into the political dictionary of 21st century in Nigeria that is “Vote Buying” or Vote Purchases” which in the contemporary society of Nigerian means to sell your birth right on the day of election in a polling unit against your intentions or conscience to mortgage your future for pea-nuts.
I have deliberately decided not to join the mad crowd in debating this retrogressive new political culture that emerged in our body politics, but every citizen has right to get involved even at a comparatively small scale in the political process of his/her country.
Section 39 of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria states that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, to received and impart ideas and information without interference (the same is provided in article 19 of international convention on civil and political Rights which has been adopted in Nigeria).
I am deeply saddened and quite disappointed by this ugly monster that dominated, Ekiti election which if care is not taken will be extend to almost all parts of the country. Ekiti state is the state that has largest sophisticated and highly educated people beats everybody’s imagination to have now become the Nigerian political stock market. The “Vote Buying” is a new political terminology that is more pronounced in the political space of this country with Ekiti gubernatorial election as classical example. Parties wanted to win at all costs and by any means possible.
Dan F Hahn, American political writer said that: “Every decade provides its own example of power defining and naming in the world of politics.” A word has been entered into the political dictionary of 21st century in Nigeria that is “Vote Buying” or Vote Purchases” which in the contemporary society of Nigerian means to sell your birth right on the day of election in a polling unit against your intentions or conscience to mortgage your future for pea-nuts.
I have deliberately decided not to join the mad crowd in debating this retrogressive new political culture that emerged in our body politics, but every citizen has right to get involved even at a comparatively small scale in the political process of his/her country.
Section 39 of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria states that every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, to received and impart ideas and information without interference (the same is provided in article 19 of international convention on civil and political Rights which has been adopted in Nigeria).
I am deeply saddened and quite disappointed by this ugly monster that dominated, Ekiti election which if care is not taken will be extend to almost all parts of the country. Ekiti state is the state that has largest sophisticated and highly educated people beats everybody’s imagination to have now become the Nigerian political stock market. The “Vote Buying” is a new political terminology that is more pronounced in the political space of this country with Ekiti gubernatorial election as classical example. Parties wanted to win at all costs and by any means possible.
The electoral process into which we were introduced has
been characterized by failure. The rigging culture has become our
electoral culture and now “Vote Buying” is another culture. Now the evil
new order in our democracy emerged through the current politicians of
21st century. “Vote Buying” which is similar to cancer will destroy the
entire democracy if care is not taken; however there is no disease
without medicine.
The National Assembly should enact laws in order to minimize this problem, the judiciary, media, security agencies, religious organizations and pressure groups have been indentified as having critical roles to play in discouraging this practice by using appropriate programs and activities targeting political parties, the electorate and politicians in this social exchange contract.
My advice to the Nigerian electorate is that our democracy has attained the legal age of maturity and this shows that we have not yet started. We are still many miles away from what is expected of us; so it’s very disappointing. It is now left for Nigerians to act wisely and courageously to vote the right candidate. Don’t expect any candidate that gives you money in polling unit to provide jobs good roads, health care, education and other social amenities for the well being of the society, after he wins the election. The more you collect money, the less you get the dividends of the democracy. The more you vote the right candidate the more you get dividends of democracy.
The National Assembly should enact laws in order to minimize this problem, the judiciary, media, security agencies, religious organizations and pressure groups have been indentified as having critical roles to play in discouraging this practice by using appropriate programs and activities targeting political parties, the electorate and politicians in this social exchange contract.
My advice to the Nigerian electorate is that our democracy has attained the legal age of maturity and this shows that we have not yet started. We are still many miles away from what is expected of us; so it’s very disappointing. It is now left for Nigerians to act wisely and courageously to vote the right candidate. Don’t expect any candidate that gives you money in polling unit to provide jobs good roads, health care, education and other social amenities for the well being of the society, after he wins the election. The more you collect money, the less you get the dividends of the democracy. The more you vote the right candidate the more you get dividends of democracy.
Shuni sent this piece from Sokoto State
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