By Isa Isawade
Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has called on every electorate in Osun State to see their vote as their voice.
Issa-Onilu said this against the background of pervasive voter apathy and vote buying in Nigeria at the town hall meeting with stakeholders organised by the Osun State Directorate of the agency in Osogbo on Tuesday ahead of the August 15 gubernatorial election.
He said NOA considered it necessary to continue sensitising citizens on their civic responsibilities and the need to protect the sanctity of electoral process.
The stakeholders engagement focused on three critical threats to free and fair election which are voter apathy, vote buying and election violence.
Issa-Onilu, who was represented at the meeting by Mr Kehinde Ogunkemide, warned that democracy could only thrive when citizens actively participate in the electoral process.
“Unfortunately, voter apathy has continued to undermine democratic development in our country.
“Many citizens have become discouraged and now believe their votes do not count. Some others have lost confidence in governance and therefore choose to stay away from elections, we must collectively reject this attitude.
“Every eligible voter in Osun State must understand that voting is not merely a political activity. It is a civic duty and a patriotic responsibility. The future of our communities, our state and our democracy depends on the choices we make at the polls.
“I therefore urge all eligible voters to come out peacefully on election day and exercise their constitutional right without fear, intimidation or inducement. Your vote remains your voice,” the DG said.
On the ugly cultures of vote buying and election violence among politicians in the country, Issa-Onilu described them as bigger threats to democracy.
He noted that, “The practice of exchanging votes for money or material gifts destroys the integrity of election and weakens governance. When votes are bought, leadership becomes transactional rather than accountable to the process.
“Citizens must understand that the temporary financial gains from vote selling cannot compare with the long-term consequences of bad governance, poor infrastructure, unemployment, insecurity and lack of social services.”
He described election violence as a great danger to peaceful democratic transition and urged all players to shun it.
Stakeholders who attended the meeting included traditional rulers, religious leaders, political parties’ representatives, security agents, representatives of youth groups and women organisations, civil society groups and media practitioners.
