Encomium
MORE Nigerian politicians have joined the latest trend in sharing rice for voters. And because of this those vying for political positions have started importing rice branded in their photographs with the aim of sharing such to woo electorates. Some have even started sharing kerosene and other domestic items.
The Ekiti governorship elections of Saturday, June 15, 2014, which saw Mr. Ayo Fayose trounce the incumbent, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is still very fresh in our memory. Fayose’s victory at the polls is said to be possible because he shared 25kg rice among voters. Analysts were, however, quick to claim otherwise insisting Fayose has grassroots connection while Dr. Fayemi was more of the elitist. He also shared 50kg rice after all and in some instances jollof rice. The two were in a race to outdo each other on the sharing of rice. As seen days before the elections, there were people in long queues gleefully collecting bags of rice. This brought about the popular belief that the Ekiti people voted for their stomach hence the coinage ‘stomach infrastructure.’ Some even joked that Fayose may have won the election because his rice was sweeter than Fayemi’s.
In Osun State, the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is said to have shipped in 50kg branded rice tagged Iresi Aregbe (Aregbe rice). The bags were branded with Governor Aregbesola’s photographs with the inscription Osun Decides 2014. Aside the rice, one of the loyalists of the governor also rolled out recharge cards branded in Governor Aregbesola’s photograph as a way of pledging his solidarity to the governor’s re-election ambition.
Aregbesola’s major contender in the August 9, 2014 governorship elections in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore adopted another strategy which is to campaign on motorbikes in rural areas of the state. He was photographed eating roast corn while in a campaign vehicle, an action which was posted on the social media to demonstrate he is in love with the masses. A statement credited to the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under whose banner Omisore is contesting, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu showed the party will woo voters in Osun State with money and bags of rice for Omisore’s victory. The statement was quickly countered by APC, through its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi describing it as an insult on the Yoruba nation. “When the chairman of the ruling party goes around to boast of power and the illegal use of money and materials to buy votes to win elections, then what further proof do we need to convince us that bandits are in charge in Abuja. The PDP will be disgraced in Osun.”
The same scenario is currently playing out in Oyo State. The incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi is said to have imported branded rice for his 2015 governorship ambition. The 50kg rice has the inscription, ‘Ajumose Rice. Courtesy Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the governor of Oyo State.’ Ajimobi’s strong contender for the Oyo seat of power, Mr. Alao Akala is also rumoured to be planning the same strategy to woo voters.
In Zamfara State, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi is plotting a comeback as governor of the state, come 2015. He is giving out 50kg bags of rice and sugar to voters for the state governorship election in 2015.
Nigerians have expressed divergent views over this development, while some believe it is in order and usual practice in politics, others insisted it is a bad thing. “Since that is what the people want, it is in order,” Kayode Salako reasoned. “I don’t know why rice distribution by politicians is all of a sudden news. It has always been in our system. Could it be because the bags are now customized or because they give a whole bag? They share all sorts of things even biscuits and you see people fighting over these items like their survival depends on them.”
“PDP bribes you in one day and then loots treasury for the next four years,” Nasir el-Rufai tweeted on his account. Also on her twitter account, actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde believes such act should be punishable under the law.
– FOLUSO SAMUEL
