Buhari’s govt has commercialised politics, says Yakassai
ELDER statesman, Tanko Yakassai, has accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of monetising politics in the country at the detriment of national development and citizens’ welfare.
The Northern leader, in an interview yesterday, said the cost of buying forms to contest elective positions in 2023 showed that “politics and governance have been commercialised.”
According to him, it is unfortunate that the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) that is supposed to lead by example pegged the cost of its presidential form at N100 million.
“Nigeria’s leadership positions for public offices in 2023 is now cash and carry, because it is those that can raise millions of naira to buy forms for elective offices that are now eligible to contest. It is no longer based on the service you can render to the nation,” he said.
The elder statesman said Buhari deviated from the legacies of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, and other leaders, who were committed to a prosperous nation.
He said: “With respect to the cost of forms to contest the presidential primaries and elections in the country today, my take is that the contest in 2023 is for sale. Anybody who buys goods for sale is seeking profit. At the end of the day, he will recoup the money he invested.
“This N100 million used to purchase the form is just a drop of water in the ocean. What will come in return to Nigerians will be unimaginable because anyone that eventually emerges and comes to power as president would want to recoup their money and with profit from the treasury. Even if the person is genuine and wants to render service to the country, the first thing he will do is to recover his money and campaign expenses.”
He chided Buhari, who rode on the back of corruption war to win election, for allegedly making the situation worse.
His words: “See how those in government are getting richer, while the ordinary Nigerians get poorer.
“I am 96 years old. For Nigeria to return to the path of development may not be in my generation. Look at Nigeria today; the economy is in a shambles. There are no meaningful industries surviving. There is so much unemployment. Yet, people are raising hundreds of millions to buy forms to contest primary elections, when the common man is suffering.”