x

APC, Astronomical nomination form prices, President Buhari’s fight against corruption

By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

Despite the N100million the ruling All Progressives Congress( APC) peg their nomination forms to qualify aspirants for its presidential primaries, the number of aspirants jostling for the party’s presidential ticket is swelling as the hours tick. And Nigerians do not consider this an aberration that persons seeking to serve the country as president are talking head-over- toe to purchase forms, even at a very exorbitant rate. There is a very serious problem and our perceived or real lack of that knowledge has been our babe over the years. The irony is that we always when the water is neck deep. Our inability to nip issues at the bud or to ward off monsters when they have not launched their vicious attacks will continue to haunt us,and we should stop complaining when the problems snowball.

A better interpretation to this is that political power is gradually shifting to the well to do and nobles in our society. Here, better ideas and idealogies are no longer the standards. It is who can pay his way through? Permit me to borrow some lines from Shiv Khera” In countries where the government and political environment is honest, generally you will find that the people are honest, law abiding and helpful. And the reverse is true too. In a corrupt environment, an honest person has a hard time. Whereas in an honest environment, a corrupt person has a tough time. In a positive environment, a marginal performer’s output goes up. In a negative environment, a good performer’s output goes down”.

You see why corruption rises to the high heavens in Nigeria unabated, we fail to check corruption from its formative stage.This reiterated my doubt about President Muhammadu Buhari’s honesty and commitment in fighting corruption in Nigeria, because it seems he doesn’t understand the whole concept and how it works. Party finances and funding are the bases of corruption in a society and should be properly guided by initiating mechanisms to check inflows from illegal and corrupt sources.

The question is how do you stake the price of a nomination form to a N100 million? Another is those who muzzle such huge amount what are the sources? Are they their personal efforts or donations or from other sources? This is where to beam serious searchlights and unravel some corrupt sources. If they are funded from their personal efforts, then those who are stealing this country dry are half known. If they are from donations, who are behind those donations? Drug barons? Contractors and fronts who are funding the political project to be rewarded from one illegal way or the other when their principal succeeds?

The implication of accepting political funding from infamous sources: They seek to water ground for favours, contracts or policy change. An aspirant may accept funds from organised crime( such as drug traffickers, terrorist groups or foreign governments). One of the motives of such donation is the possibility of payoff in the shape of licenses and government contracts. Donations may also be given for governmental policy change or legislation favourable to a specific interest group.

Like Marcin Walecki noted in the work” Political Money And Corruption: Limiting Corruption In Political Finance”, “Every Democratic system has to regulate the flow of money into politics. Unregulated political financing presents certain problems for modern liberal democracy. It fails to guarantee that candidates and political parties compete on equal terms. Keith Ewing did not agree less on this when he said that” political competition under unregulated political financing would be like inviting two people to participate in the race, with one participant turning up with a bicycle, and the other with a sports car”.

The standard used in most democracies is to restrict the use of at least some sources of private donations, either by banning them or by setting contribution limits. The restrictions aim at preventing parties and candidates from obligating themselves to private interests.

No doubt we witness contractors doing shoddy road contracts in order to recoup their investments. No wonder we see revenue sources sold off because these have been mortgaged ab initio. It seriously gives credence to the adage that ” he who pays the piper dictates the tune”.

The madness goes beyond astronomical nomination form prices and extends to the point of delegates elections where the delegates will be treated with fatty rewards. Then ask yourself are these aspirants Father Christmas, running charity outfits? We mortgage our future and we don’t realise it.

Ukegbu, a public affairs analyst, writes from Aba, Abia State, and can be reached through keshiafrica@gmail.com, 09027002127.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalistAs...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Police Arrest 239 Suspects, Recover Weapons in Kogi

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaNo fewer than  239 criminal suspects...

Tinubu’s Aide Launches JusticeTechNG 2025 to Spur Legal Sector Innovation

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform...

Davido: Critics Target Me Because of My Wealthy Background

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has...

ASUU Threatens Legal Action Against JAMB Over 2025 UTME Mass Failure

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of...

Lagos Plans Monthly Rent Payment System to Ease Financial Burden

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce...

BREAKING: JAMB Admits to Errors in 2025 UTME Affecting Student Performance

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially...

Tinubu, Ganduje Strategize Apc’s Bright Future Ahead of 2027

By: Dr Sagir S Buhari FCIAAs Sun Tzu once...

Oborevwori Affirms Commitment to Corps Members’ Welfare and Safety in Delta

By Anne Azuka Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img