Prof.Rowland World.
A Professor of Marketing,Rowland Worlu,has advised the Federal Government to increase advocacy to discourage the culture of vote buying and other social vices undermining the country’s electoral processes.
Worlu of the Department of Business Management, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, gave the advice at the 32nd Inaugural Lecture of the institution with the theme:”In Praise of Customers And The Electorate.”
The don emphasised the need for Federal Government to liase with Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society organizations(CSOS) to increase awareness for quality of life marketing.
“An improved advocacy will vigorously discourage the culture of votes buying and others social vices which had affected the democratic system, and hindered the sanctity of nation’s electoral processes.
“In addition, votes buying would not give room for credible leaders to be elected during elections as the citizens deserved better lives,”he stressed.
The don emphasized the need to curb vote buying, adding that the electorate had become victims of despondency occasioned by manipulative political system, noting that vote buying had become order of the day in the nation’s polity as it with deceptive commercials and customer relationships.
Worlu said that marketing strategies in Nigerian electoral politics could be sustained through continuous political establishment, enlightenment, innovative politicians, research and planning in politics.
According to him, the government and business people should be sensitive to the needs of citizens and customers, pointing out that citizens have expectations from the government programmes and services.
In his address of welcome, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said that inaugural lecture was germane, adding that it tends to address the fundamental aspects of national and sustainable development.
Adebayo urged the electorate to positively use their power to vote out leaders and politicians who are not sensitive to the yearnings of the people.
The VC stressed that as it is with marketing promises to customers, politicians must fulfil their commitments to the people during campaigns.
He said that Covenant University, as a leading class institution, would remain sensitive and commit to expansive viable solutions towards national and continental aspirations.
NAN.
