Against the backdrop of inducement by aspirants for key elective public offices in the 2023 elections, eminent persons on Saturday warned that undue monetisation of the political process poses a grave danger to the country.
Those, who spoke on the issue, included former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran; elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony N. Sani, and a legal practitioner, Chief Supo Shonibare described the trend as embarrassing and ominous.
In one of his reasons for withdrawing from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary, former banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, in a letter to the partys national leadership, alleged undue use of money in the process by some unnamed constants, while a former Minister of Agriculture and governorship aspirant in Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari, said he decided to dump the party because it had jettisoned the values and ideals of its founding fathers.
Speaking on the issue of heavy monetisation of politics and the suggestion by former President Goodluck Jonathan for a law criminalising the act, Professor Adeniran stated that money politics constituted an embarrassing legacy for the country, saying he supported Jonathans call for criminalising the abuser of money in Nigerias politics.
A former General Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony N. Sani, in his submission, said undue use of money in politics is never part of democracy premised on the triple foundation of justice, liberty and common decency, while legal practitioner, Chief Supo Shonibare suggested that those behind such abuse in politics could be prosecuted under some existing laws in the country.
Similarly, Second Republic presidential Adviser, Yakasai, said the unjustified use of money in politics was worrisome, because much of such funds came from questionable sources, saying: Patriotic Nigerians should make sure that even though every candidate spends money and without money, you cannot win; let us look at a candidate who will be able to change this situation for the better if he gets elected”.
On his part, Dr. Akin Fapouda, of the Okun Ethnic Nationality Movement in Kogi State, said the undue deployment of money in politics portends grave danger for the country, while Dr. Fapounda, in reaction to Jonathans call for criminalisation, queried: Who will do that; the same class that is complicit? It will take an external force of whatever nature eventually.
Also speaking, an activist and author, Shehu Bankole Hameed noted that money politics was not new, it has now assumed a frightening dimension.
