Nomination Fees: Ploy by rich politicians to block more credible candidates -Giwa-Amu

From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

Lagos based lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gabriel Giwa-Amu has added his voice to the plethora of voices that condemned the nomination fees currently been paid by those seeking political offices as the country inches towards 2015 general election.

He wondered if those seeking offices come 2015 are made to pay such colossal amount for just nomination form, might not be compelled to break the bank by the time electioneering proper begins.

Apart from the above, Amu intoned that it is indeed pathetic that persons who would have serve this country diligently are by this acts driven from the seat of government by such high fees noting that those who could not afford it, should be regarded as a loss not only to themselves but to the nation.

“I wonder how a man, who has spent such huge amount for mere nomination form, will not be corrupt when he eventually wins the election and assumes office” he enthused.

In a related development, the fiery lawyer took a swipe at members of the inglorious Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria (TAN) who are traversing the country collecting signatures with the motive to convince Nigerians that President Goodluck Jonathan is good to go for a second term.

He described their actions and inactions as that of mere carpet baggers, scavengers and political apologist whose interest he stressed is only for pecuniary reasons.

Amu said it is baffling that it is only in Nigeria that certain government apologist take to the street to beg for signature of those the government have rendered impoverished in the first instance by the clueless anti-masses policies of the incumbent government.

He says such unholy collection of signatures might not after all turn out to be an attestation that their principal is a popular candidate when the chips are down.

“I have said it in the past that it will be a political tragedy if the PDP endorses Jonathan for the 2015 election and now that they have proven to the world that their so called biggest party in Africa is indeed bereft of any other more credible candidate then I dare say they have nailed their coffin. Let me however assure them that it has also dawn on well meaning Nigerians that they have by the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan committed political suicide” Amu concluded.