In lieu of the ongoing tussle in the Nigerian political sector, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed a shocking analysis that states that it will take a Nigerian professor an average of a100 years to save money in order to purchase the presidential form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The union also disclosed that a professor will have to save money for 40 years to purchase the presidential form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
ASUU made these disclosures on Saturday.
Our correspondent recalls that the APC presidential nomination and expression of interest form was sold for ₦100 million. That of the main opposition, PDP was sold at ₦40 million.
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The union lamented that it was unfortunate that the best brains in Nigerian politics are being excluded through the high cost of the nomination forms.
It added that the culture of high nomination form fees will place Nigeria’s future in the hands of looters.
ASUU Chairman at the University of Ibadan, Professor Ayoola Akinwole, in a statement to commemorate the June 12 anniversary, noted that the high cost of the nomination form is a strategy by the elites to hand over the country to looters.
Akinwole, in the statement, stated that the 23 years of the return of democracy has been characterised by the leadership of empty promises and dashed hopes. He insisted that it will take a Nigerian Professor, who earns N416,000 per month, but saves 20 per cent of his salary, over 100 years to be able to purchase the presidential nomination form of APC.
Akinwole said, “It is a strategy of handing over the country to those individuals who have looted the country in the past. If this practice goes unchallenged, Nigerians are in for not just another regime of poor governance but that of extreme corruption and looting.
“It will take a Nigerian Professor who earns N416,000 per month but saves 20percent of his salary over 100years to be able to purchase the presidential nomination form of the ruling party and over 40years to buy the form of the main opposition party.
“Given the level of prevailing level of corruption and loss of hope in the future, political leaders in Nigeria have shown lack of willingness and capacity and the capacity to protect lives and properties and they have successfully failed in promoting productive activities that can boost the Nigerian economy.
“Until we improve our economic situation democracy will not prosper. The only antidote to this is to have large percentage of middle class sufficient to support democracy. Build public institutions instead of giving money to people. No amount of money freely given will ever eradicate poverty in Nigeria.”