Buying presidential form at N45 million promotes corruption

Dr. Walter Ajogbor

A senatorial aspirant in Cross River state, Dr. Walter Ajogbor has decried money politics in Nigeria and Africa saying, the N45million money for purchase of presidential form in All Progressive Congress (APC) is criminal.

Chatting with some newsmen in Calabar yesterday, Ajogbor said, “politics in Nigeria and Africa has been laid on a faulty foundation because politics have come to be regarded as a business where you invest and make money. It has come to be regarded as a profession.

He said, “but for me politics is service to your people and community. I am talking of selfless, sacrificial, responsible, accountable leadership. African politicians are driven by self. Egocentric, self-aggrandizement, hat is why you see a politician richer than the state. It does not happen in advanced countries. You see office holders stupendously rich. It is only in Nigeria that N10 billion would enter your account and nobody questions it.

“We have so monetize politics that the good ones are afraid to come into politics because they don’t have the wherewithal. You can imagine even in this dispensation, the presidential form for the APC is N45 million. That is criminal”. 

He wondered why the president signed the bill for the not too young to run yet a party is putting his presidential form at N45 million, so “where do you expect them to get that outrageous bill to pay? And you allow them buy the form and you start talking of automatic tickets. You are not creating a level playing field. So how do you fight corruption?

“I want to serve my community. If I wanted to serve the life of a diplomat, I would not return. My colleagues are abroad enjoying their lives. I came home because I saw a need. That is why one of my campaign slogan is ‘Seen a need take the Lead’. I saw a leadership lacuna in my community and I came back”.

The diplomat of over 30 years standing stated that “lawmaking is serious business and the National Assembly (NASS) is not a place where you send men and women that do not have pedigree. You need to prepare yourself spiritually, mentally and academically to function. We encourage good people to come into politics.

“They say politics is a dirty game, then why should we fold our hands. In life whatever you don’t ask for nobody will give it to you. The Bible even encourages us to ask. Nigerians, particularly the youths, should rise up and take their destiny in their hands. The president of Austria is 31 years old. Also president of France is a young person. 

 

“You must know where you are coming from and where you are going to because the Bible says “my people perish for lack of knowledge”.  Where there is no vision the people perish. Until we take our destiny in our hands and dare the people nothing will change. Most of the times, we put the cart before the horse. If you wan to get to the top you must be a dreamer”.