Gist: What will you do if politicians offer you money for votes?

Respondents

In the build-up to the 2015 elections, there have been various reports of politicians going about inducing voters with money and gifts to gain votes. Saturday PUNCH went out to ask some Nigerians what they would do if any candidate approached them with money in order to gain their votes

The money would be for my upkeep

Mrs. Olayinka Bakare, unemployed

I have a PVC but I am not ready to go out and vote on election day. The only thing that would make me leave my house on election day is if I am promised a job and if there is assurance that it is not just another promise that would go unfulfilled. I have been jobless since last year and things have really been hard for me. I started a business last year when I lost my job. I was selling meat but the business also folded up later. Now, I don’t even know what to do. Voting is the last thing on my mind. So, if anybody gives me money to vote for him, that money would be for my upkeep, not voting.

I will never collect money to vote

Mrs. Bolaji Tiamiyu, Trader

No matter what anybody pays me, I would not change my mind about who I would vote for. I have realised that politicians are liars. I am not ready to sell my vote. How can I sell my vote when I know that they would end up deceiving me? I have been told that our votes are powerful and I am ready to use it to fight for my right. I will go out and vote but would never collect anybody’s money to change my mind.

It’s an insult to offer me money

Idris Abu, anti-corruption crusader

I would not vote on sentiment and neither would I vote based on pecuniary benefit. I have been carrying my PVC on me since I got it because I know how important it is. I would not change my mind about my candidate for any reason. I am not one of those people who vote without genuine reasons. I have weighed my options and made a choice about who to vote for based on those reasons. It will even be an insult for anybody to offer me money for me to change my mind on who to vote for.

I can’t sell my children’s future

Mrs. Kehinde Adejare, plantain seller

I would not collect money to vote for someone, ever. This election is a destiny vote. I have to ensure that I don’t sell my children’s destiny. I cannot collect peanut just to vote for someone and my children begin to suffer in the future. I would only be destroying their future and I cannot do that. If we all sell our votes, bad people would continue to stay in power and we would continue to be poor. I sell food by the roadside. I want my life to improve and I cannot contribute to my own poverty.

Nobody can bribe me

Abimbola Arike, trader

I am ready to vote and would never sell my vote. I am not hungry to the extent of collecting money so that I can change my mind. Nothing will make me change my mind about who to vote for. I am not contented with where I am but I cannot blame politicians because they do their best. It is my right to vote for whoever I like. This is why nobody would bribe me into voting for them.

I’ll not collect it

Alex O, musician

I think the most important thing is whether I believe in the policies the candidate is selling. If the person’s policies make sense to me, that is the person I would vote for. Some people might take the money and still vote for whoever they want to vote for because nobody would be there when you are voting. It boils down to who you think can give you what you are looking for. I would not collect the money because I would vote based on who I believe would make the country a better place.

My vote not for sale

Wale Adebayo, actor

Basically my vote is meant to be mine and it is not for sale. I am going to vote based on what I believe in and it does not matter if he becomes the wrong person at the end of the day. I would vote for a person I believe can give me what I think I want. My political views have to be in alignment with the person’s own. Whether I collect money from him does not matter as long as I vote based on my ideals and principles. The person would practically be wasting his money, especially if I was not even planning to vote for him to begin with. I thought that we should have gone past using money to induce people to get votes. I will reject the money.

I have always rejected such

Foluke Daramola, actress

I have been offered money several times which I rejected but I will not mention names. I don’t do such because I am voting for my conscience, my future, and I am voting for change. That is what I am voting for and not because of money. At the end of the day, the money will finish. We need a restructuring in our system, our industry and in Nigeria as a whole for the future of our children. I will never compromise my stand or integrity for money.

I will reject it

Fidelis Duker, filmmaker

Personally my vote is not for money. I think we have got to a point in Nigeria where we would decide a leader without being induced by anything. I will not accept money from anybody to vote; I will rather reject it. I want to vote based on my conscience. We have got to a point where the polity is heated up and it is good. It is now obvious to politicians that you cannot take Nigerians for granted. That is the beauty of this election. Whoever wins would know that for the next four years, he has to work hard, if not he would be kicked out by the people. People would vote based on their conscience and look beyond propaganda and lies. People now know better and the best man among them would win. Definitely, I will not subscribe to collecting money.

It is tempting but I won’t take it

Evaezi, actress

If it happens that he is the person that I want to vote for, then it is okay but if it is not the person that I want to vote for, then too bad for the person. I would vote based on my principles and ideologies. I would vote based on who I feel would make the country a better place. As for the money, I would not want to be a hypocrite and say I will not collect the money. It is quite tempting. Even if I collect the money, he would not know that I did not vote for him. Although collecting the money seems very tempting, I doubt I would take it.

I will collect the money but won’t vote for them

Seyi Coker, Businessman

I will collect the money but I won’t vote for the person if he’s not my candidate. If I let the money influence who I vote for, it will be like buying my entire life for filth; it’s nonsense. It’s like selling my right and I can’t sell my right to anyone. My conscience will not be at peace if I go ahead and vote for the person if I’m not convinced that he will perform well in the position.

If the amount is not insulting, I will collect

Uwem Umoh, Businessman

I will collect the money, provided it is not derogatory or insulting. By that I mean if the money is not just a small amount of money. Then, I would still definitely and courageously and convincingly vote my choice of candidate. It doesn’t matter that I collected money or not.

If I don’t collect it, I will lose

Mrs. Florence Thomas, Trader

In Nigeria of today, if anybody gives me money, I will accept it but it doesn’t mean I will vote for him. If I don’t collect the money, then I will be the one who will lose. After all, no one will know who I vote for since no one will be at the polling booth with me when I cast my vote. No candidate has brought anything to my area in Shomolu, Lagos this year but I heard some candidates have been distributing umbrellas around here. During past elections, they shared everything here- rice, money and so on. I collected everything and still voted for the candidate of my choice.

I have my job

Abbas Samuel, Businessman

No, I won’t accept any money from any candidate who wants me to vote for him or her. What if I collect the money and the candidate ends up to be a terrible public servant. We need good leaders who will take us to the promised land. No amount of money will sway me and make me vote against my conscience. So I won’t collect money from anyone since I have a job. If I didn’t have a job, it would be another matter. Any money I collect will only last me for a day or so, so why sell my vote?

It’s corruption

Chinwe Ndu, office assistant

I can’t accept money from any candidate; it’s corruption. No, it is very wrong. It’s like selling my right, so I won’t do it. What we need in this country are people who will do what the people want when they get into offices. I will vote for the candidates that I believe will do the things the masses want, not people who will go there to steal our money.

No matter the amount, I won’t collect

Gozie Irobie, singer

My vote is supposed to speak for me. There is no way I would collect anybody’s money. Collecting money is not even the issue. We just have to vote during this election. I am not going to collect any money; no matter the amount I am paid. I just have to perform my civic responsibilities and that is it.

I will take it because it is our money

Bethel Okorie, Musician

Everybody needs money, so if any candidate offers me money to vote for him, I will collect it and vote for the candidate of my choice. Before I vote, I look at the antecedents, profiles and promises of the candidates before deciding on who to vote for. No one can buy my conscience; the future of my family, my children, generations yet unborn and my own are at stake. I’ve seen politicians promise heaven on earth and then do nothing. Many of them are there for business; they offer people money because of what they know they will get there. Some of them are being sponsored by godfathers who are looking at getting their money back once their candidates win. So if I collect the money, I’m actually collecting our money that they have looted.

Anyone that does that disqualifies himself

Gbenga Bada, Senior Associate, Pulse.ng

Candidates who offer electorate cash in exchange for votes have firstly displayed an act of malpractice and corruption. A credible and confident candidate would lure me to the polls to vote for him or her by giving me convincing plans on how to improve the state of the nation and plans for a better future. Thus, I would reject the cash but vote the candidate I deem fit to lead me and provide a better future.

How can I reject money?

Seun Oloketuyi, CEO, Best of Nollywood

I would definitely collect the money. Lai Lai! How can I reject the money? Is it not our money? But that said, I would still vote who my conscience advises me to vote, I would still vote for the credible person.

I will reject it

Blessing Desmond, businesswoman

I will certainly not accept such money. No matter the reason, I cannot do that. Selling my votes is just the same as selling my future and those of my children. I would reject the money and vote for the right person.

I will collect it but I won’t change my mind

David Unah, businessman

Nobody can induce me with money to vote for them. I would vote for whoever my conscience tells me to vote for and that I know that has good plans for us as a country. But if the person pressures me into collecting the money, I will pocket it and still vote for the candidate of my choice; after all he or she won’t be there at the point of casting the ballot.

I will never collect it

Aniekan Reuben, businessman

Nobody can use money to change my mind. I would vote for the candidate and party I support, no matter how huge the money anybody is trying to offer me. I will never collect it. I am from Akwa Ibom State and I strongly believe in the party I support and all the candidates. So, as far as I am concerned, nobody can use money to change my mind.