2019: Why vote-buying will make youth lose faith in education
There is an old story in Thailand’s vast rice-growing hinterland about politicians who handed out a pair of slippers at election time – one slipper before the vote and the other after they were successfully elected. Since the earliest days of democracy in Thailand seven decades ago, candidates have used both creative and not-so-creative ways […]
There is an old story in Thailand’s vast rice-growing hinterland about politicians who handed out a pair of slippers at election time – one slipper before the vote and the other after they were successfully elected.
Since the earliest days of democracy in Thailand seven decades ago, candidates have used both creative and not-so-creative ways to buy votes. The eve of an election is still known as the “night of the barking dogs” because canvassers traditionally go house to house handing out cash – rousing hounds along the way.
In America, the period between a candidate’s announcement of his intention to run for office and the party’s primary election is known as the “money primary.” It’s during this time that aspiring candidates must prove to party bosses and the public that they can attract campaign financing.
It is a fact that in Nigeria, from the candidate’s declaration of intent, primary election to the main election; it’s the period the candidates prove to the party bosses, the delegates and the voters that they can rake in enough money to win election either through ballot box snatching, vote buying or rigging.
Vote buying in various forms exists in many countries, whether as last-minute road paving, “lunch money” for voters who attend rallies or the supply of food and provisions.
This trend has several negative implications for the youth and the future of our country.
One , it will demoralise the youth and make them lose hope in the future. Two, for those who still see a future, they will get the message that money, not education, is the key to the future. Therefore, they will desperately look for that money – including through unwholesome means – so that they can use it to grab power.
Yet, the much-touted drive for the electoral reform in Nigeria appears to be going almost nowhere with the recent outing of the political parties.
Vote-buying scandals are nothing new, yet it is extremely unusual as widely reported at the Ekiti State gubernatorial election where the ruling All People Congress (APC) and the People Democratic Party (PDP) were alleged to be both involved in an open vote buying.
While Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) frowns and condemned the act, no culprit from the both political parties was prosecuted. It’s very unfortunate instead of the political parties to be relatively “clean,” for their candidates to win votes on the merits of their policy promises; it turns out to be cash and carry affair with the highest bidder taking their day.
It is likely also that the money both aspirants/political parties allegedly used to buy votes came from proceeds of corruption or from the government.
The recent bye-elections in Kogi, Bauchi and Katsina States with wide spread complains of vote buying shows that our politics and democracy is locked in a never-ending cycle of corruption.
APC as the ruling party should take a more positive role in raising the standards of political ethics especially with its promise of change to Nigerians. Much remains to be done, for example, to tighten anticorruption measures The anti-corruption campaign of the government should not only end up with looters of public treasury. Vote buying is a two-way street. It does not happen if people do not “sell” their votes and it does not happen if voters are not induced by politicians. That is why voters’ behavior is as crucial as candidates’ behavior.
When a voter exchanges their vote for a monetary compensation or bags of rice, dresses, detergents, bag of salts and sugar; indirectly they have sold the conscience and needs not expect any meaningful thing from the elected official.
With the general election coming up early next year, campaign preparations are already under way; INEC, political parties, candidates and civil society organizations need to wake up for public awareness on the danger of vote buying. With the recent vote buying episodes, some candidates may be tempted or have already planned to get votes under the table in the 2019 general elections.
It may be almost impossible to totally eliminate campaign irregularities, but we can start by arresting politicians and culprits involve in vote buying and prosecute them.
What to do? The government must note that vote buying saps democracy and will eat away at the foundations of our democracy.
The youth themselves must take notice change their mind-sets. If they continue with this degenerate perception, it is guaranteed that they will see their elected officials only once in four years.
The electoral umpire is doing a commendable job. But it should do more to combat this menace.
Previously, only those who paid could be prosecuted. But the law should be made to rewards those who have received money and report it before or within days of election. The security agents at the polling units should be apolitical and discharge their duties to arrest those involve in vote buying. One wonders if those selling their votes or exchange for a pack of noodles and detergents are really comparing the value of what they are receiving to the value of their lives? It’s difficult to offer tangible evidence of vote buying and gift inducement; but everyone in Nigeria knows it happens.
The gubernatorial election in Osun State proves further that our political parties and politicians have endorsed vote buying in 2019 general elections.
If our political parties practice clean brand of politics, it would transcend the money politics and open up greater political space for a true democratic process in Nigeria. But, how do we expect an individual to be honest, transparent and accountable as an elected leader after engaging in vote buying as a shortcut to office?
Mr. Yahaya wrote from Muye, Niger State. [email protected]