‘Nigerians should ask politicians seeking their votes in the 2023 general election the right questions such as how they intend to improve living standards and the country.’
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, advised this at the NICHE 2022 annual lecture in Lagos.
He urged Nigerians to remove sentiment, knowing that democracy is concerned about the widespread participation in choosing a set of leaders with no guarantee that those leaders would deliver on what the people want.
According to him, electing a leader of national interest is far beyond collecting tricycles, sewing machines, and generators, among others.
He said Nigerians should ask the politicians if, legitimately, the budget from which they bought these things will also provide healthcare, drugs, and diagnostic equipment in their health facilities.
Mr. Fashola emphasized that Nigerians should focus their expectations on good schools, roads, and other public infrastructure and services upon which their prosperity depends collectively rather than on personal gains.
He adds that his experience in government suggests that many electorates do not understand the constitutional roles of the Legislators, Local Government Chairman, Governors, and President.
He, however, conceded that Nigerians are reasonably well acquainted with their rights.
“Elections are only a part of the democratic process, which requires not only the successful party to play their role in the formation and running of government.
“But the opposition as a watchdog, and government in waiting, have an equally important role in enriching the process,” Fashola revealed.
He further stated, “let us ask ourselves when last an opposition party prepared and detailed an alternative budget to the party in government.
“True enough, we hear criticisms of what the party in government is not doing or getting right, but when I ask, can you recall an opposition party offering a credible and alternative solution to what the party in government has done wrong?
“I must acknowledge generalised statements such as we will do this and do that, but that is where it ends very often,” he said.
Fashola said on revenue and the borrowing by the government, apart from the legitimate concerns about borrowing which are rightfully expressed, he had challenged the critics to provide an alternative.
“If you listen to any of the several Morning shows, the issue will come up, and you will hear the criticisms, which are legitimate, but you will not get any credible answer to the question–what are the alternatives?’
“The answer must be between cutting waste, reducing the size of government, raising taxes, and stopping some programmes, projects, or policies.
“But who is ready to have these conversations in real politics?” he said.
He added that such concerns are things citizens must demand before the 2023 general elections to sustain the future of our democracy.
He maintained that when the campaigns for election to executive office start and the people hear of free this and free that, they should discuss how much it would cost and where the money will come from.
S.O
