The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has raised alarm over threat of money politics to this year’s general elections in the country.
SDP Vice Presidential candidate, Engr Yusuf Salisu Buhari who raised the alarm in Ibadan on Monday declared that the new trend of money politics cannot take Nigerians out of present challenges.
Engr Buhari pointed out that the time had come for Nigerians, particularly, the electorate to shun money politics during the forthcoming general elections,
“Nigeria is presently facing a lot of crises which can be stopped by visionary, patriotic, just and determined leadership”, and that Nigeria politics will be determined by the people who have the most money, not by those who can offer the best if we continue to play money politics.
“Let us be clear: this election is not first about defeating other opposing parties. This election is beyond politics. It is about who we are as a country and how we project the image of who we are to the rest of the world. I will be the first to admit that in recent years, there have been many moments when I have truly worried about our future”, he said.
He added, “the progress or success that we must aim for as a person, is also a direct consequence of self-accountability and self-discipline. If we continue to play money politics, then our politics will be determined by the people who have the most money, not by those who can offer the best.
“These are critical components for bringing sanity and functionality to any system, as well as defining a responsible citizenry. We must resolve to halt and reverse this trend of failure. It is time to start walking the path that would lead this country to success and prosperity. And even if for nothing else, let us do it for our children. Our solutions and our destiny, are adequately in our hands.”
Emphasising that “the task ahead requires governance with full awareness of our differences so that we can fully harness and utilize the potential of these differences with justice, he said Nigerians to elect the Presidential candidate of the party, Prince Adewole Adebayo and other candidates of the party in order to take Nigerians out of the present challenges.
“We are reeling from the worst of an unmitigated crisis. We are experiencing a moral reckoning with impunity and systemic injustices. Our Nigeria has come to a very sad place in its history.These challenges demand a deliberate turnaround under the careful and firm guidance of a visionary, patriotic, just and determined leadership” .