NEWS DIGEST – A lawyer, Mr Yemi Akinseye-George, says money politics is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Akinseye-George, a professor of law at Nasarawa State University, said this on Thursday in Keffi during the 1st Inaugural Lecture of Faculty of Law at the institution.
He said “there is an emerging trend which may be termed commercialisation of politics
which threatens the sustenance of democracy in the country.
“It arises from the use of large sum of money to win elections which often triggers the cycle of corrupt behaviours in public office.”
The don attributed the bane of Nigerian politics to high cost of elections from intra-party primaries to the main elections.
According to him, winners in election feel justified to recover their money and accumulate funds for the next election after they spent a lot to get elected.
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He said “corruption ensures that democracy does not deliver justice, peace and development and therefore people feel short-changed and disappointed.”
He, therefore, stressed the need for pragmatic approach to fight high-profile and grand corruption in the country.
Akinseye-George said political office holders should be ready to lead by example, saying “there is need to rework and rejig the National Anti-corruption Strategy (NACS) and
aggressive education of the electorate, among others.”
He urged the political elite to consider the interest of citizens, adding that there was urgent need to redirect the society toward the path of integrity and constitutionalism.
The Registrar of the institution, Alhaji Bala Ahmed, thanked the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Mainoma for creating an enabling environment for learning and teaching.
He urged the students to take their studies with all seriousness to excel in their academic pursuit.
The inaugural lecture was attended by academicians, politicians, traditional rulers, students, among others. (NAN)
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