Former Convener of the Situation Room and election advocate, Ene Obi, has accused politicians of weaponising poverty against Nigerians, particularly during elections.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Friday, Obi said the practice was having a damaging effect on voters and their ability to make independent choices.
“It’s unfortunate that politicians are weaponising poverty, and it is very, very sad. Because in our lifetime, no Nigerian was picking from the dustbin, but now Nigerians are picking from the dustbin, which means you can throw bread and people will be ready to catch.”
Obi blamed the situation on what she described as the failure of politicians to invest in citizens.
“Why? Because politicians, many politicians have looted the treasury. They are not investing in the human capital, they are not investing in the welfare of citizens, and they are making them to become beggars on days of elections.”
She said voters should not allow financial inducements to determine how they exercise their franchise.
“You know, for 15,000 is it worth selling your vote, your conscience… conscience is a wound, you know, and the wound eats you up when you know that you have not done according to it.”
Obi called on Osun residents to come out and vote according to their conscience in Saturday’s governorship election.
“We are calling on Osun citizens to please come out en masse and choose their leaders according to their conscience, put war on the politicians that are weaponising poverty against the people.”
She also criticised the monetisation of politics and questioned the example being set for younger Nigerians.
“What are you teaching them? Insanity is, you know, the level of insanity is so much, is it only politics that is a business in Nigeria? Because the monetization of politics has become a different thing.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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