Don Advocates Strong Institutions For Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy, Says Vote Trading Weakens Democracy

A legal practitioner and Don has said, Nigeria need strong institutions to build a virile democracy in order to turn around the fortune of the country.

Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun was speaking as the guest lecturer at the induction of some personalities into the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Osun State Council Hall of Fame in Osogbo.

Addressing the topic of the lecture, Vote Trading and Emergence of Pseudo Democracy and Pseudo Governance in Nigeria, Prof Oyedokun said engaging in vote trading weakens democracy and governance such that it would be worst than military autocracy.

He said if institutions were strengthened, especially the political institution, it would not be easy for anyone to rise above the State as it had been the case in the time past.

“When we engage in vote trading, we have weakened our democracy and governance, and we have caused to emerge Pseudo governance which is worst than military autocracy.

“We need to strengthen our institutions in Nigeria, if the institutions are strengthened especially the political institution then it will not be easy for just anybody to rise above the State like w have had in the past”, he said.

Pro Oyedokun charged the citizens to take their destiny in their hands by getting involved in the affairs of the country through political participation.

He said “The citizens should not be in the state of dementia they are now, they have been complacent about the affairs of the country. They left everything in the hands of government.

Speaking, the State NUJ chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu said it was important to discuss, debate and shape the perspective of Nigerians on the implications of vote trading as a new concept in the political system.

He said the media held it as a responsibility to sensitise the people on the implications of vote trading.

“When you trade your vote in an election, you are mortgaging your future, you are mortgaging infrastructural development and you are mortgaging economic turn around of the nation.

“By implication, the target is about the forthcoming election in Osun State, and we will sustain the tempo. It is not going to be a day campaign, It will be periodical, Ajadosu said”.

Those inducted into the NUJ Hall of Fame include, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, APC Chairman, Gboyega Famodu and Mr Sammy Adigun Oreoluwa.