2023: Highest spender, not the best candidate, will win, says Afe Babalola
By Jennifer S. Kuwanta
Afe Babalola, a leading legal scholar, said that Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election on February 25 will be won by the greatest spender, not the best candidates.
Babalola announced this during a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.
He voiced concern that the 2023 general elections will be held in accordance with the 1999 constitution, despite his recommendations, and that the poll will merely reproduce those who have brought Nigeria to its current position.
He said, “It is not who can make a difference that will win this election, I repeat, it is not the person who has all it takes – age, health, education, and patriotism, that will win the election; the winner of this election I can bet it, is going to be the person who has made money in this country.
Read Also: 2023: Sowore Says He Doesn’t Need Endorsement Of Those Who Ruined Nigeria POLITICS
“It is the person who has the money that will win,” the legal icon added.
According to Babalola, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent endorsement of Peter Obi of the Labour Party does not take into account the role money bags would play in the election.
Only a new constitution with rigorous requirements for political candidates would save Nigeria from total collapse, according to him.
Babalola added, “A man who wants to rule the whole country or any part of the country, ought to be screened. Has he ever worked before, what type of work did he do, did he steal there, was he a good manager, does he pay his taxes regularly, what contributions has he made to society?
“You cannot just come from nowhere and become president, become governor, become member of house; these are transactional business men.
“I still stand by my suggestion that any election conducted under the present 1999 Constitution cannot and will not produce new leaders with new ideas, rather any election conducted with the 1999 Constitution will merely result in recycling people who have brought Nigeria to grinding poverty, unemployment, under-funded education, and insecurity,” he said.
