POLITICAL SCENARIOS

PART THREE

COUNTING THE COST- Cost of politics to non politicians

Around 2012, political godfather in a south western state once boasted openly that he spent N7B to install a governor and he is ready to spend three times the amount to unseat him, and he did

The presence and use of big money in our politics drowns the integrity of our people. That is a major factor that snatches patriotism and conscience from the masses.
Political leaders wickedly, intentionally leaves the masses poor, misinformed, uneducated and submissive so they can remain bought every time.
The more money you have the more votes you have.

Agboism
Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even to be defeated.
Will Rogers

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.
Oscar Ameringer

In Nigeria,
the 1999 constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria specified in section
225 (1-6) conditions and scrutiny of the sources of funds and expenses of political parties. Section 225 (3)(a) and (b) as well as 225 (4) forbid political parties from foreign funding of any kind. Section 226 (1-3) demands annual reports of account from political parties. By extension, the Electoral Act (2010) stipulates the ceiling of expenses by candidates and political parties for specific elective positions.
The maximum limits are pegged at: N1,000,000,000 (naira) for presidential candidates, N200,000,000 for governorship candidates, and N40,000,000 and N20,000,000 respectively for Senate and House of Representatives candidates.
Electoral act of 2010 pegged LGA chairman spending at N10, 000, 000 and councillors N1, 000, 000

Scenario in a 260 wards constituency and 356 delegates

LGA Chairmanship election

There's a range of vote pricing, from minimum of 5k per delegate to like 20k per delegate. That's from N1.85m 2 N7.2m @ 356. delegates.

5k, 20k, that's a given. No delegate goes to the primaries & returns home with nothing. Moneybags pay up to 50k; that's N17Million.

After winning the primaries with the N20Million roughly, candidate now moves to see LGA EO (Electoral Officer) & DPO. 2m to each of them. N24M.

Thereafter, candidate now pays 250k to 4 radio stations to play jingles & do half hour programs. That's N25M

Then comes the "thugs allocation". Candidate gives like 500k to 2 dreaded groups of thugs to be ready for eventualities. That's N26Million

Candidate does tours with the thugs & party loyalists spending about 200k each outing. Around 10 Wards that's 2m. N28M.

On election day, turnout is mostly very low. Candidate wins. Gives EO & DPO balances of 2m each. That's 32M.

Candidate is sworn is as LGA Chairman & uses 1st JAAC grant to recoup N35M. Then uses the JAAC stipends to make profit for a year.

After 2 years, Chairman does 1 culvert in each Ward, buys few transformers, delivers cheap drugs to PHCs & small furniture to LEAs.

Chairman wins a 2nd term or run for higher office like House of Assembly, House of Reps.

source:
Kunle Oduah

The above calculations are based on normal circumstances which could double or triple in some cases, it however does not guarantee success at the polls. Someone once said in 2003 that the minimum you need to win as state governor is N5b.
From the current probes and scandals that reveals heavy funds; we can actually estimate the cost of elections.

Now imagine what it will cost to get into higher offices, imagine a good candidate without such funds, imagine a candidate in the hands of godfathers that bankrolls elections, then imagine you and I in politics, imagine why we get what we get from these present crops of politicians. Imagine a political scenario with decent and disciplined voters and candidates.

It’s a simple Nigerian political logic: politicians invest heavily in elections, wins and launch elephant projects that hardly gets half completed at about a thousand percent inflated price to cover election costs leaving the people deprived of what they were deceived to get at electioneering campaigns. Political office holders are rumoured to sign contract of allegiance to godfathers to remit as pay comes in from Abuja, so we hear figures and never see projects or physical representation. As they are in chains to their godfathers, we remain in a cage of both parties. They fight or play, we suffer it.

Voters will sell votes because of past disappointments, political office holders will deny voter’s dividend as they have cashed upfront, godfathers will lay claim to recouping investments, this keeps the state treasury between our representatives and their godfathers, few will only give some to the masses.

A fearless and dramatic godfather in a south western state once asked on TV how he won’t get from the security vote of his governor he installed, a disagreement that showed the governor exit before end of his tenure.

Another eastern godfather openly kidnapped a sitting governor over similar issue.

Obvious case of open slavery and lack of respect for a constituted authority, can we allow this to continue as we watch Nigeria deteriorate in our eyes and our time. If we can’t benefit the change, we have to prevent our coming generation from experiencing a worse scenarios.

Elections have become too lucrative because it costs too much to get elected hence the reason they amass wealth when they win. If you and I get involved purposefully, it won’t cost a thing and dividend will be delivered.

We MUST get involved today and gradually grab our glory back. As its not a rocket science, so it is not easy. Series of tutelage level must be undergone while we obtain our Voter’s card ready to vote.
Look around you and take a chance to enlighten our people about selling a vote, its a four year mortgage that signs away your rights for the whole season.

Always remember!
Your vote counts and you don’t have to sell it.
Your vote counts! You don’t have to waste it.
Vote and be voted for

Agboola Odunfa
Youth Political Movement