I was not of voting age in 1979, but I still remember the election of that year VIVIDLY. Etched in my memory was the voting booths made of corrugated iron sheets and woods. Not to be forgotten was the ballot paper specimen used both for public enlightenment and campaign by parties
Then the 1983 elections with all its imperfections.
The next major election was in 1993. Though we had local government elections in 1987/88 on zero party basis and also another one (SDP and NRC) in December 1990. Then there was governorship and House of Assembly elections of December 12, 1991.
After 1993, we didn’t have another general election until 1999 and then 2003, 2007, 2011 and the last one in 2015.
Where am I driving at?
NEVER IN MY WIDEST IMAGINATION DID I THINK A DAY WOULD COME, IN NIGERIA, WHEN VOTERS WOULD BE PAID TO VOTE FOR A PARTICULAR PARTY. AND NOW, IT IS BECOMING A CULTURE.
It was unthinkable.
A friend (names withheld) called me from Osun State this morning. She is reading this I hope. She said she received a message yesterday that if she votes APC on Saturday and snaps it with her phone, her reward is N10,000. She was not the only one who has received such call.
APC wants to be discreet this time. No open vote buying. You vote, snap and bring the photo to a specific location to receive your N10,000.
Don’t know yet what PDP would come up with.
This is unfortunate.
If you think you are popular and even also the ruling party, do you need to buy votes to win?
I am deeply saddened by this. Deeply saddened…
Source: Facebook