Provide dividends of democracy, spur electorate to vote willingly -NNPP chieftain
BY ADEGBOYEGA STEPHEN
A South-West chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has said that voter apathy in the country is due to non-provision of dividends of democracy to the generality of Nigerians.
He said voter apathy was actually a result of the failure of political ruling class to provide dividends of democracy to the populace.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Sunday, Ajadi said when the people saw the dividends of democracy, they would be willing to vote during the elections, calling on lawmakers and the entire political class to always make the interest of the electorate a top priority.
He said when people only heard of “the huge salaries and allowances” of the political class and they got nothing from the government, in terms of security, provision for health and education among others, they tended to ask themselves why they actually went out to vote during elections.
He proffered that “if we introduce some benefits like reduction in medical, electricity and other social amenities’ bills for carriers of voter cards and those that regularly vote during elections, this may also spur electorate to willingly participate in the voting exercise during elections.
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“In reaction to the bill being sponsored by the House of Representatives to make voting compulsory, I wish to reiterate that it is not a right move.
“What the lawmakers should have done is to ask why there is voter apathy. People in the past, especially during the Second Republic, came out voluntarily in large number to vote during the elections, especially in the South-West region, because there was provision of dividends of democracy in form of free health, free education, rural developments, among others.
“The solution to voter apathy is not the use of force, but provisions of dividends of democracy to the people. When people only hear of constituency projects funds without seeing the projects, they will be discouraged in voting in future elections.
“I will also suggest that it will not be out of place to also make provisions for carriers of voter cards in form of allowances; this may spur more people to be interested in voting.
“The political class needs to double efforts in putting the interest of the masses in their hearts. If you do more for the people, they will willingly come out to vote during the elections.
“Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should strive to conduct good elections and ensure that the wish of the people are reflected in the results of the elections.
“Many are discouraged to participate in voting, because they believe that the electoral commission will not be diligent in their duties.”
