VOTE BUYING AND SELLING : HYPOCRISY OF THE GUILT
In this insightful opinion article. Ọmọọba Adésúnkànmí Adémólá Adéwálé bears his opinion on the phenomenon of vote buying and selling with particular focus on its Co sequence on the workings and workability of democratic government.
By: Ọmọọba Adésúnkànmí Adémólá Adéwálé
It is crystal clear that instrument of dominance and oppression being wield by the political class from time immemorial, and particularly today when other odds in election rigging seem to have been tamed considerably, is Vote Selling.
Complimentary to the irrational, repressive, unviable and oppressive allotment of the dwindling national wealth to servicing political offices, politicians garners blindly, every bits they can, legally and otherwise, in readiness to dangle baits at electorate in exchange of vote. To the critical mind, Vote Buying is the only potent strangulating instrument, handy for misrepresentation against rational and informed public interest in Africa's democratic history. As fundamental as this background is to focus of my narrative, i will hold up on it to address bothering misconception, or rather, flimsiness of excuses being put forth by those who indulge in vote selling, and those who found strength in the conspiracy and theft of conscience of the fools.
Often time at public discourse on reasons for Vote Selling, "Poverty" is put forth in argument as reason electorate sell their conscience, before, during and after elections.
It becomes a concern, how "Poverty" is being defined, relatively to the scourge under searchlight.
Vote Buying and Selling.
Record have shown that Vote Buying and Selling is not peculiar to the poor alone. As a matter of fact, the ugly trend has variants across social stratas and demographics; the old and young, rich and poor, male and female, perceived educated and illiterates, high and mighty. It is evident and logical to posit that the subject (Vote Selling) is ubiquitous across different socioeconomic status (SES).
However, proponent of the "poverty" alibi fails to take cognisance of the variations, perhaps out of mental laziness or delibrate attempt to continually dwarf public knowledge. Just as theft isn't synonymous with particular demographics, vote buying and selling isn't.
Yòrùbá philosophy employs the cliches of; "Bí olóúnje bá rí mi, tó ro'jú, màá fi àìje te", and Àìlówó l'ówó kò pa'ni l'órúko da" ("When the bounty owner sees me and frown in attitude of a miser, i will rather display contentment with my little", "That i am poor doesn't demean my humanity" (apply respectively) to resonate fundamentals against subservience and greed. Proponents of excuse of poverty will always like to dig up flimsy counterclaims accordingly.
Where is the sense in identifying a scourge against ones well being, and still make such a haven?. We should be conscious to ask ourselves of degree of trend of vote selling and buying in democracies that works (Western countries), where Nigerians, young and old, throngs to at every advantage.
It will be more rational and sane to christen reasons for odious acts of vote selling what it reasonably is, and frantically leave out demagogue of demography, if indeed we must emancipate from mental slavery, grip and exploitative dominance of the political class in Nigeria.
- Ọmọọba Adésúnkànmí Adémólá Adéwálé
Ọba Adéwálé-Tèllà Agbénúàránwòye Compound
Ìgà Ọbaàsásì, Modéolú Quarters
Ìlarò Yewa South LG
Ògùn State.
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