What is the driving force behind the much-anticipated March 28 election? Naij.com’s guest author Osayimwen Osahon George dissects the habit of engaging in “money politics” in Nigeria.
The history of Nigerian politics is entangled with money politics. In fact, here, the term
‘politics’ can be used interchangeably with
‘money’.
The size of a politician’s campaign ground can be an effective
yardstick for measuring his wealth and influence but not for estimating
how much people believe in his leadership abilities and potential. Time
is money to the electorate. Ears are rented. They chant aloud and sing
praises when they clearly can’t understand or hear the campaign speech
being delivered by the candidate. This doesn’t make them different from
Nollywood actors.
Democracy in Nigeria has been heavily battered.
An average Nigerian sees the election period as a blatant opportunity
for him to grab his share of the ‘national cake’.
Earlier this
year, newspapers widely reported the massive sale of houses and other
properties belonging to politicians at give-away prices in top cities
like Lagos and Abuja. This is because of huge financial demands of
political campaigns, with the masses stretching opened hands to receive
cash and other resources from competing sides. This could be likened to
the “game theory” in political science where both parties aim to win by
exploiting weaknesses of an opposing side.
The politician
recklessly spending his hard-earned funds isn’t dumb or that
magnanimous. The people constantly demanding for financial resources are
not smart; they will pay an unimaginable exploitative interest rate
over the next four years at the success of the candidate.
One can
hardly name a country in the world where instances of bribery or
political corruption are not present in their national politics.
Researches on Africa’s post-colonial history have shown that in Africa,
corruption is an institutionalised and systemic practice affecting not
only the post-colonial state itself, but also the majority of the
citizenry. Still, Nigeria’s case is alarming. The image of democracy is
severely dented.
Financing
politics is considered to be a good investment in Nigeria. Once a
godfather chooses his protégée, profit is guaranteed. Corruption in
financing politics in the country pervades every level of the government
and takes many forms.
No wonder political parties are among the
three most corrupt institutions, according to governance surveys in
Nigeria. However, the problem has not yet received deserved attention.
Prominent politicians in Nigeria have successfully created an enabling
environment for deterioration of democracy. Have you ever wondered how
the PDP is spending the N21 billion raised for the presidential campaign
of President Goodluck Jonathan? It is widely believed that the money is
just a tip of the iceberg.
The presidential electoral money
sharing force smells something propelled above N50 billion naira but
this is very subjective anyway.
We have heard of the rumoured N6
billion given to prominent Nigerian pastors to preach against Muhammadu
Buhari. What about the undisclosed fee given to the Yoruba ‘leader’ Gani
Adams that prompted him to promise President Goodluck Jonathan six
million votes Probably the late Professor Peller (the magician) would
have loved to challenge him to a magical contest if he were alive. Money
has this alcoholic effect if not properly managed.
Another
rumour also has it that our great president gave a whooping $250,000 to
each traditional ruler at the Southwest geopolitical zone to secure
votes of their followers. According
to a report from 15th of March, 2015,
“a
handful of obas received as high as $250,000 each, while the least-paid
were traditional rulers of small towns who were given $10,000 each.”
Looks
like the pay was worth new enemies and future risks, since these
leaders blindly endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan against their
fellow Yoruba man, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who is a running mate to the
APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari. This is business. As long
as the profits exceed the costs, it’s a successful year. I am sure this
is part of what President Goodluck Jonathan was advocating for when he
advised the citizens on entrepreneurship. It takes improved and
sensitive entrepreneurial abilities to deal with politicians at times.
Not only is this abuse of democracy and power, but also a public slap in
the faces of the followers of these so-called traditional rulers.
Voting
is a civic right that should be respected. No leader reserves the right
to impose a certain candidate on any electorate. This certifies the
stand of the Awujale, paramount ruler of Ijebuland, oba Dr Sikiru Kayode
Adetona, and others who gallantly refused to be politically bought.
Independent-mindedness and critical nature are important features that
differentiate a southwest person from a northerner who agrees to die in a
terrorist operation without questions. This could be attributed to the
success of indirect rule in the early 90s.
This article portrays
too much subjectivity regarding incidents of bribery, but the beauty of
rumours in the context of Nigeria is that they always end up with the
strongest elements of truth which is revealed over time.
It was
widely publicized that President Jonathan also stormed Lagos with wads
of dollar notes. His campaign strategist made a perfect suggestion due
to the high value of the dollar as compared to naira, which is around
N220 per dollar. That was enough to buy the conscience of the
electorates in Lagos.
It is so sad that the kind of politics we
play in Nigeria hasn’t reached its maturity stage. We are playing
politics of the street. We trade insults rather than discuss issues. A
close study of the Facebook page of the campaign manager of President
Jonathan, Fani-Kayode, sums it all. His close enmity with governor
Rotimi Amaechi is enviable. It reminds me of our secondary school days
when you always criticize a female classmate just to get her attention.
Both of them should probably settle their hidden crush on each other
outside politics. I am not straying away from the issue of money as it
seems. The PDP clearly went to the election transfer market to shop for
Fani-Kayode.
That reminds me of football. Diego Costa in the last
Champions league campaign played and scored against Chelsea football
club of England, but today, he is the torch-bearer of Chelsea FC.
Fani-Kayode used to be the PDP’s most ardent opposer; recently, the APC
showcased one of the harshest criticisms of the incumbent president he
delivered before defecting to the ruling party. It’s a simple game of
Fani-Kayode weighing where he could eat more and then deciding. This
further confirms the comic statement made by the former military head of
state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) that if you want Fani-Kayode to
dance and sing for you, simple give him ‘food’ to eat. These are
terrible models of leadership consciously and unconsciously influencing
the lives of us, the youths.
Another point worthy of note is the
“romance” of the leadership of the PDP with some Nollywood actors. When,
looking at pictures of President Jonathan’s campaign in Asaba, Delta
state, on the 5th February, 2015, I saw prominent Nollywood stars like
Ramsey Noah, Monalisa Chinda, Kate Henshaw, Joseph Benjamin, Ini Edo,
Daddy Showky (singer), Patience Ozokwor, Omoni Oboli, Fred Amata,
Nollywood producers Zeb Ejiro, Moses Ewang, Kingsley Ogoro, comedians
Gordons, Omobaba, and others, I knew something bigger than my
imagination must have driven them out despite their acclaimed tight
schedule.
Particularly the way Ramsey Noah, with his fresh skin,
was chanting under the scorching sun was an indication of a ‘personal’
motivation. Well, what do you expect? Since he was paid for the show, he
decided to do his best as an actor. Much respect to Ramsey Noah and
others, anyway, at times the country’s economic state doesn’t permit you
to uphold your integrity. I am sorry if I am taking this personally.
It’s
not my intention to engage in any sort of character assassination, but
here is my question: how come these Nollywood stars developed an
interest in Nigerian politics over the night (aside Kate Henshaw who
made a failed attempt at it)? Did providence make a revelation to them
through a dream, trance or vision? If you follow them on the social
media, or go through their interviews, some of them have never
mistakenly mentioned the term ‘politics’ in decades, even as a result of
malapropism.
I will not fail to mention the Ekiti state ‘rice
strategy’ that ushered in governor Ayo Fayose. He strongly tackled the
issue of hunger during the campaign… but what is the essence of giving
an able-bodied jobless young man the best food at a five-star restaurant
when you know he will be back hungry the next day? His joy will only be
momentary. That is the plight of the Ekiti state people, and they
are feeling the heat. Earlier this year, governor Ayo Fayose threatened
to sack Ekiti workers who failed to honour the campaign of President
Jonathan. This, coupled with his recent threats on traditional rulers,
is an aberration to civil rule and local customs. It’s high time our
leaders started treating us as sane people, not bombard us with cheap
gifts, false hopes as if we were patients going through a rehabilitation
process.
The issue of integrity in Nigeria seems to be washed
away gradually by the “monetary erosion”. Everybody has a price tag,
only prices differ. Once you meet the asking price, the individual
accepts the contract. Consider the case of Reuben Abati’s permanent
silence. Abati, currently special adviser on media and publicity, used
to be an unrepentant critic of the current administration. He was
previously a newspaper columnist and chairman of the editorial board of
the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian from 2001 to 2011.
Finally, the
‘money politics syndrome’
is about to raise its ugly head in deciding the winner of the
forthcoming presidential elections in Nigeria. If you follow opinion
polls and intellectually accurate surveys carried out by reputable
organisations, you will realise that the odds favour the presidential
candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), but that is on
paper. In reality, those privy to Nigerian politics are placing their
bets on President Goodluck Jonathan due to national financial resources
at his disposal. It is just a matter of you displaying your price tag on
your shirt and getting paid.
The outcome of the forthcoming
election now appears scary, as the electorates are scared of another
four years of political and economic oppressions. We are tired of
reading news of missing billions and fake promises. The plight of the
masses is so pitiful. We need to stand up against this trend of
money politics
which is an entry point to unscrupulous political elements in power.
Let us endure the economic hardship of resisting attractive bribery
items as a small sacrifice for a greater future for the country.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/407025-money-politics-nigeria-politics-vs-money-ahead-of-elections.html
Nigerian
Pilot reported that the violence started when APC political thugs
carrying out a one-million-man march for the state governorship
candidate of the party, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, attacked PDP supporters.
