Cash Crunch And Vote Buying: One Will Cancel One -By Tife Owolabi

Will the cash crunch increase or decrease vote buying from the perspective of “weaponized poverty”?

Some people haven’t seen what the new Naira looks like in the last few days. They have queued endlessly at the ATMs and banks just to withdraw their hard earnings but to no avail. Those who couldn’t stand the pain buy Naira with unimaginable percentages.

Now, with the weaponized poverty sailing across the length and breadth of the country, how many will resist having the new naira note that will be presented to them?

Buhari, no doubt means well to say that loosely and bent on delivering on credible, free, and fair elections devoid of “ vote buying “ but having not thought it through and through it for the avoidance of unintended consequences as he not empower the vote buyers to sail through without hindrance?

As I put my thoughts on paper, many policemen have not been paid six months’ arrears and mobilization fees to monitor vote buyers.

One policeman who I spoke said the following.

“ Like other elections , all Policemen participated and are paid on or before elections.We were asked few months ago to submit accounts details to enable INEC factor us into their budget. We complied. But we are smelling foul play here. I am tempted to feel that our names have been used to collect money for the elections.Many are worried already. They don’t even know how to report to their polling units. Very likely , many be abscond. I am concerned. This IGP has really shown that he’s incompetent.”

Vote buying and cash crunch are the variables sailing through now, and one will bow to one or one will cancel the other.

Vote wisely they, but, a hungry stomach doesn’t know who provides the food, all it wants is food.

Eat now and starve forever or stay hungry now and eat fat later.

Food for thought!

Tife Owolabi
Policy and communication crisis Analyst