Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over increased incidences of vote-buying in the country, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Jonathan expressed the concern on Tuesday in Abuja, at the public presentation and formal launch of his book — “My Transition Hours”.
He said that vote buying, which is gradually replacing other forms of electoral malpractices, has become scandalous and places the country in bad light.
He pointed out that voters’ inducement through engraving of pictures of candidates and political party logos on gift items during elections is another rampant strategy of vote-buying.
He advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to borrow a leaf from other African countries and create polling centres in public places such as schools where classrooms are used for voting, to make vote-buying difficult.
He explained that his book launched was essentially an account of happenings during the 2015 general elections and the events that made him to place a phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari, which doused tension and ensured peaceful transition from the then ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC).
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, hailed Jonathan for his statesmanship, sportsmanship and uncommon courage of conceding defeat to Buhari in 2015 when collation was still on.
Saraki said the act of accepting defeat by Jonathan helped to stabilise the already charged political atmosphere during the elections.
He recalled how Jonathan used to vow that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian, and called on political leaders to toe the same path and should not look at elections as declaration of war as the 2019 polls approach.
On his part, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was chairman of the occasion, also hailed the statesmanship disposition of Jonathan and urged him to remain committed to his residual responsibility of continuous service to his immediate community, Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
According to Obasanjo, there is no substitute to democracy as it unifies the people.
He said Nigeria has the responsibility to unify West Africa, Africa and the black race across the world.
Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, also thanked Jonathan for conceding defeat in 2015 to save Nigeria from impending war and consolidating democracy not only in the country but the entire African continent.
He also applauded Jonathan for his role in fostering unity, peace, progress and strengthening democratic rule in Africa, saying: “Goodluck Jonathan is a good man and when the history of democracy in Africa is written, his name will be etched in gold.”
The book launch was graced by hundreds of prominent Nigerians, including
The APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Senator Dino Melaye, former governor Attahiru Bafara of Sokoto State, ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, ex-PDP governors, ministers and many members of the political class, traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps.
- NAN