It is so obvious even to the blind that in Nigeria, Money Politics and Vote Buying have taken the center stage in our political and electioneering activities. Share a dream of your political ambition with your close friends or associates, the first question that pops up usually, is the size of your financial war-chest, the depth of your pocket and the identities of your financial backers or godfather, how loaded they are. This is because parties and candidates have shown by their conduct during political campaigns, that good party manifestos and integrity of candidates jostling for public offices are no longer sufficient to guarantee electoral success. This unfortunate drop in societal norms and value is responsible for the resort to Vote-buying during elections and money politics generally. Also, the electorates on their part have obviously demonstrated cynical electoral behavior by the readiness to sell their votes to the highest bidder. This uncharitable behavior or practice constitutes a blemish on public policy and the electoral process. In fact, it portends dangers to the democratic process of electing officers and in turn prevents good Governance.
While it may be difficult to eliminate the phenomenon of Money Politics and Vote-buying completely, its negative consequences are damn too obvious. To the average Nigerian politician, election is not a call to Service to society/humanity, but an outright financial investment expected to yield returns in bountiful folds. Every turn in the election process in Nigeria has its own monetary demand, the Expression of Interest and Nomination Form for Presidential Aspirants in PDP for instance, can only be procured with a whooping sum of N40 million. Then, “logistics and Welfare” for delegates to Party Conventions where the Party Primaries will be conducted is a different kettle of fish. Aspirants are believed to woo delegates with as much as N10 million each (depending on the position the Aspirant is vying). While that is going on, very costly consultations and solicitations for endorsement by the Aspirants, from known opinion leaders, key stakeholders and traditional rulers kick-in.
Let us examine the case of Bola Ahmen Tinubu, a leading Aspirant for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who began his own presidential aspiration consultations in the North way back in March, 2021 under different guises. He had his 69 Birthday bash in Kano in March 2021, -it was a massive event where he was believed to have spent over N1 billion in the colloquium and in charity. Then he visited Zamfara State to commensurate with them in one of the several rounds of Bandits attack. He dropped N50 million. He followed it up with a visit to Katsina State when there was a market fire incident in the state and equally dropped another princely sum of N50 million.
After visiting the Presidential Villa, Abuja to inform President Muhammadu Buhari of his life-long ambition to be the President of Nigeria and further intimated him (President Buhari) of his aspiration to fly the flag of the ruling APC in the 2023 presidential elections, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu immediately launched into series of consultations and meetings on the matter of the 2023 presidency. In Abuja, he met with some Northern leaders led by the former Liaison Officer to former President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai. Later, he proceeded to Kano and Katsina states where he conferred with Governors Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Aminu Bello Masari. Among those he also met with were Zamfara State Governor Bello Mutawalle, Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Mr. Bola Tinubu thereafter turned the steering wheel of his consultation train to the South West geo-political zone where he commenced consultations and solicitations for endorsement with top notch traditional rulers in the zone. Although they (traditional rulers) tend to pretend to be insulated from partisan politics, however, they enjoy the respect and reverence of their people and wield considerable influence on political matters. Ostensibly, Mr. Tinubu took the decision to parley with these royal fathers to underscore two important points. One, to underline the significance of the royal fathers as critical stakeholders in the country’s democratic project and to have access through them to their subjects who most often than not, depend on the position of their traditional rulers for their political direction and decisions.
It is alleged that apart from the Onii of Ife , every other Oba in the South West geo-political zone visited by Mr. Bola Tinubu got a ”thank you Kabiesi” souvenir of N35 million for the Oba himself and N15 million for the Oba’s Council of Chiefs. It is alleged that the Onii had a special package of N100 million. It is also alleged that an incident happened at the palace of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Akinruntam during his visit to the Oba. The youths of the town in their great numbers amassed outside the palace of the Oba grumbling aloud that they also want their own share of the public money he has been doling out. Earlier on, they had accosted the Chopper Pilot that took Mr. Tinubu to the town and demanded N500,000 “Parking fee”. The Jagaban instructed that they should be given and it was delivered. So, when they began to make noise around the Oba’s palace, his Police details tried to disperse them, but the boys made threats. The Police Station in the town quickly locked shop and all the Officers sneaked away. The DPO of the Station walked across the Oba’s palace where he advised security details to Mr. Tinubu to take it easy with the boys before the situation snowballs out of hand.
We understand that Mr. Bola Tinubu’s next port of call after the APC convention going on at Abuja is the South-South geo-political zone. He is quoted to have said that apart from the Obi of Onitsha, there is no other traditional ruler of substance in the entire South-East worth a peep-in. Painfully therefore, only N35 million for the Obi and N15 million for the council of chief will accrue to the entire South East from his largess.
From every indications, Tinubu has a limitless financial war-chest and his public relations appear irresistible. But what is baffling is that nobody appear to be questioning his sources of income to be that financially profligate. In 2023, we should take a different path and learn lessons from our past. What we want is dedication and service, not politicians going about with bullion vans. We should not crucify this country on the cross of gold!
