Onwusoanya Ezendigbo berates huge budgetary allocations for conduct of elections in Nigeria
By Chinedu Emeruwa Chinedu
Former presidential aspirant, Chief CBN Onwusoanya Ezendigbo, has berated huge budgetary allocations being earmarked in conduct of general elections in the country by the federal government.
Ezendigbo regretted that despite the huge resources accrued to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for conduct of elections, the process will turn out to be flawed on conclusion by the nation’s electoral umpire.
He decried the wanton killings and political violence being orchestrated by anti-democratic forces in their quest to clinch power, urging Nigerians to change their mindsets and stick to the rules as practiced in other democratic countries in the world.
Ezendigbo who contested the concluded 2023 presidential election held in Nigeria under Independent candidacy, made his feelings known in an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday.
According to him, “The billions marked out for conduct of elections in Nigeria is wasteful. And at the end of the day, INEC will go out and announce results that do not reflect to the wishes of Nigerian voters.
Onwusoanya Ezendigbo berates huge budgetary allocations for conduct of elections in Nigeria
“Why should we spend huge resources in holding flawed elections? Why should we killed ourselves during elections? And over eighty percent of these ends in court. We must begin to emulate other democratically-advanced countries, and do something different.
“It is disgraceful that our economy has broken down. Citizens are now confronted by insecurity, hunger, food inflations, and naira devaluation. And our educational system and other critical sectors of nation’s economy are in shambles. We need to have a change in our mindset and ways of doing things”,the Igbo chieftain stated.
Ezendigbo described as disappointing that the judiciary arm of government in the country, which served as the last hope of a common man, has allegedly failed to deepen current democratic process in Nigeria.
“Nigerians have lost confidence and trust in judiciary. The judiciary need to be reasonable and considerate. Most of these Nigerians travel and see how things are being done in other advanced countries.
“Why should every election ends in litigations? The whole system is broke down. We have the best brains and if anything negatively happen to Nigeria, it affects entire Africa continent. We must come together and make our country work,”former presidential hopeful advised.