A South west Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has said that voter apathy in the country is due to non-provision of dividends of democracy to the generality of Nigerians.
Ajadi who was reacting to a recent Bill by the House of Representatives to make voting compulsory and specify sanctions against those who failed to vote in elections, said voter apathy is actually a result of the failure of political ruling class to provide dividends of democracy to the populace.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Sunday, Ajadi said when the people see the dividends of democracy they would be willing to vote during the elections, calling on the lawmakers and the entire political class to always put the interest of the electorate a top priority.
He said when people hear of the huge salaries and allowances of the political class and they get nothing from the government in term of security, provision for health and education among others, they tend to ask themselves why they actually went out to vote during elections.
He proffers that “If we introduce some benefits like reduction in medical, electricity and other social ammenities bill for carriers of voter cards and those that regularly vote during elections, this may also spur electorate to willingly participate in the voting exercise during. elections.
“In reaction to the bill being sponsored by the Federal House of Representatives to make voting compulsory, I wish to state that it is not a right move.
“What the Lawmakers should have done is to ask why there is voters’ apathy. People in the past especially during the Second Republic came out voluntarily in large numbers to vote during the elections especially in the South-west region because there were provision of dividends of democracy in form of free health, free education, rural developments among others.
“The solution to voters’ apathy is not the use of force but provisions of dividends of democracy to the people. When people only hear of constituency project funds without seeing the projects, they will be discouraged in voting in future elections.
“I will also suggest that it will not be out of place to also make provisions for carriers of voter cards in form of allowances, this may spur more people to be interested in voting.
“The political class need to double their efforts in putting the interest of the masses in their hearts. If you do more to the people, they will willingly come out to vote during the elections.
“Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), should strive to conduct good elections and ensure that the wish of the people are reflected in the results of the elections. Many are discouraged to participate in voting because they believe that the electoral commission will not be diligent in their duties”.
