A professor of Political Science at Texas State University, United States, has said public toilets are cleaner and safer than the mouth of an average Nigerian politician.
Prof Sheriff Folarin, who is a Nigerian said campaigns in the country from 1979 – 2019 have been laced with lies and empty promises.
In a lecture titled ‘The Challenge of Creative Leadership in an era of scarcity: Nigeria and the critical times ahead’, he said rigging has become a common feature of elections in Nigeria.
Speaking at the first Peter Obi International Symposium/Lecture Series, organised by a support group for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, under the aegis of Nigerians Arise for Peter Obi organization, he observed that political campaigns have been riddled with lies and unfulfilled promises.
According to him, “Public latrines are cleaner and safer than the mouth of an average Nigerian politician. The lies are even less told these days because campaign or not, some privileged politicians in some political parties are going to be declared winners.
“Rigging machines are put in place to deliver undeserved ballots, so much that the candidates with merits end up shortchanged and lose out in the game of thrones. The financial stakes are too high.”
He noted that with the rate at which Nigerians were speaking corrupt politicians will be unable to rig the election.
He added, “The rate at which the youth and adults, ethnicities and regions, Christians, Muslims and African Traditional Religion worshippers are speaking in one voice, it will be impossible to silence or rig the elections next year.
“The military could not do it in 1993. The corrupt political class should not be able to try rigging the elections in 2023. Will the votes count this time? Can the ruling party steal the votes?
“As things look, Nigerians will not fold their arms and watch as their votes are stolen,” he said.
In supporting Obi’s candidature, he said, his candidacy has given the South- East a shot at Presidency, adding, “I also argued that if the Igbo must produce the next president, they have to close their ranks and stop selling themselves out to the Northern oligarchy.
“Furthermore, they should not alienate the Southwest in this quest, and work closely with the entire Southern Nigeria, if they must beat the North to their game.
“Thankfully, they have a man who has the quality and competence now, a man who fits in squarely. This is their time and chance. They should be wise and take it.”
