By Correspondent in Magongo.
The Olumagongo of Magongo in kogi state, His Royal Highness, Chief Sam Bola-Ojo,has told politicians to bear in mind that in politics there must be sincerity, love and understanding.
He stated this during a Town hall and sensitisation meeting held at Mangogo in Ogorimagongo Local Government Area of Kogi State, organised by a Civil Society Organization (CSO), Connected Development.
The traditional ruler stressed that the use of money to buy electoral victory had been a cog in the wheel of political development in Nigeria.
The royal father,who lamented that the effect of vote buying and selling was poor performance of some elected politicians, urged the electorate to do the needful during the forthcoming 2023 general elections to shunning money politics.
“I have told my people not to pursue wealth at the detriment of their peace and comfort. There is nothing rice, maggi, omo and cloths can do for any body; instead, it will further impoverish you for four years.
”If you have regard for yourself, you will not run after what can not add value to your life. We must have faith in God that created us” the monarch said.
Earlier, Amb. Hamzat Lawal, the Executive Director of the CSO, said that the meeting was aimed at enlightening the people on the need to base their choice of candidate during election on competency, credibility and vibrancy that would bring about service to the people and their communities.
Lawal stressed that vote buying and selling remained one of the biggest threats to a smooth transition in 2023 and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to play its role by tackling money politics.
He stressed that the time has come when electorate should look beyond taking money from politicians, but base their votes on credibility of the candidates contesting elections.
The activist enjoined the people to base their choice of candidate during election on competency, credibility and vibrancy that would bring about service to the people and their communities.
”In 2023, we must focus on issues that affect us collectively and I believe we will have justice, fairness and equity in our democracy and politics in Nigeria,” Lawal said
The executive director also called on other sister organisations, the media, as well as other security agencies to play their role to curb vote buying and selling in elections to the barest minimum.
Lawal also stressed the need to work with the traditional and religious institutions to amplify the message at the grassroots in order to do away with vote buying and selling.
According to Lawal, Connected Development is committed to deploying 20,000 observers to monitor the 2023 elections, ensure active participation of women in elections and issues affecting them.
According to him, one of the biggest threat to 2023 general elections is insecurity; citing break down of law and order among others and called on security agencies to be more alert during and after the general electíons.
He emphasised the need to engage communities and sensitis them, the need to conduct themselves peacefully and vote rightly during electíon, adding that that formed the cardinal point of organising the meeting.
In their separate comments, Women Leader, Mrs Rukayat Ahmadu; and Youth Leader, Mr Desmond Obaro in the area, promised to mobilise their people to vote for credible candidates, irrespective of political party.
Ahmadu, an Educationist, who said the future of children rest in the hands of the parents, charged electorate to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in order to change the narrative for better Nigeria, come 2023.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
