Abayomi Idowu, a Lagos based, servant of the people. has congratulated Nigerians for keeping faith democracy which June 12 symbolises and also tasked politicians to always play by the rule in order not to scuttle the nation’s democratic process.
Mr. Idowu, who is also the Chairman of Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association, LERA, lampooned delegates of many political parties for turning the process into a money spinning exercise.
” It was absurd and disgusting to read in the newspapers and television of allegations of bribery by political parties and their delegates. The delegates are our problems as they vote for the highest bidder and not the candidates that have the capacity to move the country forward. This kind of activity does not portray politicians and even our country as a serious people”.
Idowu who noted that such could truncate the hard earn democracy of the country, advised bribery by most candidates of all the political parties and their delegates, that politicians to have it at the back of their minds, that they aspire to offer service to embezzle money.
The candidates that give money to be voted for should also be ashamed of themselves as they deprive the people the best candidates that can serve the people better.
INEC too should up their game as there is law against all these practices.
The system of indirect primaries that allow only the delegates to vote should be reexamined and the process of choosing delegates should also be reexamined.
This is very important so as not to discourage good people with capacity to serve from offering to serve.
Speaking about June 12, Idowu said it represents the collective struggle and resilience of the people to enthrone and sustain democracy, noting also that “the will of the people in a democracy is supreme and cannot be underestimated”.
According to him the fact that Nigeria has experienced 23 years of uninterrupted civil rule speaks to the collective desire of the people to sustain democracy.
” It is also important we appreciate the struggle of Nigerians some of our citizens paid the supreme sacrifice, others went into exile while others were incarcerated, so to destroy this democracy through the recklessness of our politicians would be costly for all us.
Recall that June 12,1993 was the day Nigeria conducted what has been described as the fairest and freest presidential election in the nation’s modern history, but was annulled by the then government, thus precipitating a long and bitter struggle for freedom and democracy.
