….Says “you don’t have to run down your country to get elected
Works Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola has called for an issue based campaign during next year’s election in order to bequathe a better democratic tenets.
Speaking while delivering a keynote address at the Niche Annual Lecture titled 2023 Elections and the future of democracy,he said that the citizens owe it a duty to the country to take up leaders on what they want to deliver and not on what they can get from office seekers.
The campaign should also focus on how democracy can make life better for the country and how leaders can be chosen based on popular participation.
TheNiche lecture: Come hear Fashola speak
According to him,when voters accept inducement in form of gifts,then they should not expect much since money procured to give the voters is part of the anticipatory budget when they get to power.
He also called on office seekers to talk more about good things the country has than running down the country to get votes.
For the youths,the former Lagos state governor urged them to have a second address first before seeking to govern or hold public office.
Said he,”public office is nit a child’s play. Youths should serve in other capacities first and ensure they have a second address adding,”have a second address before serving as public office is not a primary place of experience. You must develop yourself for public service because it is not a place to play”.
Speaking further on next year’s election,Fashola said that the hype in public debate is a normal routine during election period adding that popular participation in governance could be achieved through interest in the system.
He observed that only twelve million new voters registered to vote during next year’s election contrary to what obtained in 2019 when fourteen million new voters registered to vote.
Fashola,however called on the media to shape public opinion by the content if the news they use that twill positively impart on the lives of majority of the people.
“The media should focus on conversations that affects the majority of the people and the potential voters to help them in the choices they make”.
He highlighted gains of the present democratic dispensation like the construction of new Lagos-Ibadan railway,the Second Niger Bridge,Enugu-Onitsha expressway and construction of housing estate in 34 states of the country.
