Ahead of general elections next year, the electorate in Nigeria have been called upon to shun corrupt leaders and avoid mistakes of the past.
Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Akin Fadeyi who gave the admonition at the official media presentation of his agency’s 2023 General Elections Sensitization project tagged: “Put on Your Thinking Cap”, called on citizens to secure their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), turn out emmass at the polls to effect the kind of change they truly deserve.
Fadeyi called on citizens to vote wisely this time, shun the vices of election violence and vote buying which he said have left them for years at the mercy of “money bags with their future and that of their unborn children morbidly mortgaged by the pittance politicians often offer to secure their votes.
More than 80 participants joined in the social re-engineering conversation virtually home and abroad with an armful more journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking from his base in Lagos, Nigeria’s prolific Journalist, Jamiu Mojeed welcomed the initiative even though he said the project may have come a little too late to change the narratives in 2023.
According to Mojeed, with political parties primaries around the corner and with the way the political system is currently structured, the two dominant parties(the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue to hold sway with their tickets firmly tucked in the hands of money bags.
He said only a constitutional amendment that makes provision for independent candidacy can possibly turn the table.
Responding, Social Activist, Petra- Akinti Onyegbule said time has come for positive minded young and vibrant citizens to populate the two major political parties and from within the fold engineer desired change.
Another speaker, Kayode Akinropo from his base in the United Kingdom (UK) agreed in principles with Mojeed. He however pushed the button a notch higher when he blamed it all on Nigeria’s faulty foundation. “How did we get to this point”? He asked, calling on citizens at all levels to be prepared to ask critical questions and demand accountability.
But even more profound is the submission of AFF Board Chairman, Simon Kolawole who simply left the solution in a series of posers: “What is the guarantee that if the people do not collect bribes for votes that they will be rewarded with credible leaders”?.
He asked even further, “How do we know the people who can perform”?
AFF has been in the business of raising citizens consciousness against corruption and other vices since 2006.
The group in 2016 launched its mega Anti-Corruption campaign, “Corruption Not In My Country”. It did in close collaboration with renowned Nollywood actors and actresses to deliver over 30 drama skits it used to pass its message of a corrupt-free society to millions of homes in Nigeria.
AFF followed with a first of its kind innovative technological portal, “FLAG IT” to curb corruption and other social vices that have combined to paralyze institutions and denied citizens assess to freedom, liberty, equity and justice.
According to Fadeyi, its newest initiative, “Put On Your Thinking Cap”, aimed at sensitizing citizens on the need to vote wisely in 2023 will be massively rolled out and taken to every nook and cranny of the country; even as he ruled out chances of the project been hijacked by politicians.
Fadeyi’s most impactful message on the day was to Nigerian intellectuals and influencers who he said are very active on national issues on the “Social Media” to channel same energy to pick up their voters’ cards ahead of elections and ensure actively get the job done in their various localities. “Elections are not won and lost on social media, he said.
