If you like, use “Anabi to beg Mohammed”, some Voters will collect money on Saturday. I am just saying the obvious about the mindset and attitude of an average Nigerian. Even when things are not so hard like what we are experiencing today, Voters collected money before exercising their franchise in the previous elections in the state.
For politician to buy votes, there is always a seller; meaning, it takes two to tangle. Advocacy against votes buying have been on for years, is there any changes in the behavioral pattern of Nigerians during election? The answer is NO.
Unlike other states, voting buying in Ondo State took a different dimension and nomenclature- See & Buy. It was introduced into the state by a former governor and ever since then, it has become a winning strategy for politicians.
See and Buy could only work when politicians collaborate with Security Personnel assigned to polling units. This type of vote buying simply means, to any voters that want to benefit, he or she must show thumb printed ballot paper to the paymaster assigned by the party as a proof that he or she actually voted for them.
As a media person with years of experience in election coverage, the security officers attached to poling unit can’t feign ignorance of this trading. The party with the biggest pocket SETTLE all the relevant stakeholders attached to each unit under the guise of logistics.
This act of vote trading is not limited to a particular party alone, virtually all the political parties make provisions for LOGISTICS. It is more of a Bazaar as Voters go with party with highest pay.
Have you asked yourself, why would people continue to collect or ask for gratification before voting? Poverty, right! Yes, high level of poverty play a big role; what do you expect an hungry man to do when Naira notes is being brandish to his face? To some, they believe their votes don’t count and you hear this kind of statement -“WE VOTE OR NOT, OUR VOTES DON’T COUNT. So, if that is the case, let’s collect their money.
Another reason why voters settled for gratification is this lackadaisical attitude of politicians who after election, become scarce commodity. Some even change their phone number and for those that still maintain their old contacts, they will ignore your calls, text messages and any other text send to their social media platforms. The Voters too will be waiting for election day to collect their own share of the national cake as if their lives depend on it.
The proponent of SEE & BUY is no more in government but his legacy lives on as his predecessors in office has learnt and understudied the efficacy of applying this method during election.
Less than 48 hours to the election, voters are patiently waiting to CATCH OUT. The job of INEC is to conduct free and fair election but can they stop vote buying? obviously, the answer is No. Previous elections, the anti graft agency, EFCC officials were deployed to arrest anybody trading in votes but how many have been arrested and prosecuted for votes buying?
Different methods are been deployed to disburse the money to potential voters that play the game right; to prevent the prying eyes of EFCC, immediately a voter has been ascertained of voting for their party, some give tally while some have their names written down. In local parlance, that is SETTLEMENT LEYIN ISIN- meaning settlement after voting.
Some parties have alleged that some candidates have stockpiled huge amount of money in their vaults for vote-buying on election day and they are looking for as much as N20,000 or more per vote. In this regard, no party is a Saint.
The major contenders in the race are ready to do everything within their mean to woo Voters to their side. On election day, Voters are beautiful brides and king but after election, they are no longer relevant until another four years. I could remember a governor in the state, now of blessed memory, after winning elections, said that his money brought him to office.
Where is the money to be shared coming from? To governor in the office, he has access to the state coffer aside contributions from fellow governors. Other candidates that have State Governors and rich friends, they too will receive support because it is more of AJO (CONTRIBUTIONS) where they rally round their colleagues during election.
With the look of things, the catch out is going to be be more than Edibo Esebe. This time around, Voters who collect money will not only sebe (cook) but also buy foodstuffs (buy one or two congoes of Gari or rice). Stopping this menace in our political system is going to be tasky because the politicians that ought to do the right thing and provide good leadership are not ready, reasons being that, they are the biggest beneficiaries.
Once the system is right and all the basic amenities are provided, job opportunities for majority of the populace, stable power supply, improvement in the country’s economy, reduction in corruption to the barest minimum and declaration of the State of Emergency in every sector, then, no politician can cajole and buy the conscience of the electorates again. With intent to enslaved us till thy kingdom come, they impoverished us, using religion and tribe to divide us the more.
No amount of sermon or appeals would stop these people from not collecting this money because many believe, that is the only way they can benefit from the politicians and government forgetting they are mortgaging the future of their children and unborn generation. What moral right do you have to challenge a non performing governor that pays you before voting? This lamentations of bad governance will continue for as long as we keep on selling our birth right for a pot of soup.
We must been determined to reject any amount they are bringing; in this November 16 Governorship Election, endeavors to vote the right person you believe can transform Ondo State and not voting for the highest bider. It is high time you believe that your votes will count, that whatever they give you would only last you for days and more also, voters apathy must stop.
Finally, if you believe CATCHING OUT is the in-thing, I fear for your future and the future of your children. Voting for the.wrong person, believe me or not, four years is not four days, your curse or prayers will have little or no effect on them because you sold a good and you have been paid- Shikena.
