Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, says
politicians can win elections without “exaggerating” the nation’s problems.
Fashola said this on Thursday while delivering a keynote
address at TheNiche annual lecture, with the theme ‘2023 Elections and the
Future of Nigeria’s Democracy’ in Lagos.
The minister said rather than exploit the country’s
challenges, politicians can highlight its prospects.
“We can win elections without exaggerating our problems. We
can do so by offering credible service and well thought out solutions,” NAN
quoted him as saying.
“We can win elections
without disrobing our country before the global community. We can do so by
valorising Nigeria’s possibilities and not by widening her fault lines.
“Elections and democracy must represent for us, a feast of
ideas and choices that bring out the best of us and the best of our country.”
Speaking further, he said Nigerians should focus on how
democracy can make lives better.
“Given that we are 20 days to the formal commencement of
campaigns for the 2023 general election, the 2022 annual lecture coming 170
days to the first of the elections in February 2023 provided a potential
platform for many possibilities,” he said.
“Democracy does not guarantee that the leader or those
leaders will deliver or indeed are able to deliver on what we want.
“Put conversely, what really is it that we expect from those
we elect and what do they promise to do before we vote, and what have they done
for us? Did we vote for, or did we collect tricycles, sewing machines,
generators, etc. from them?
“If we did, can we legitimately expect that the budget from
which these things were procured will also provide healthcare, drugs and
diagnostic equipment in our health facilities?”
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