Former Governor of Ogun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Tuesday advised Nigerian voters to cast ballots with their brains and not their stomachs, to install the right leadership in 2023.
Daniel spoke at the 4th Annual Lecture of SWAAYA Limited, the Publisher of Freedom Online in Lagos, where former governors Ahmed Makarfi and Peter Obi, of Kaduna and Anambra respectively, were also present.
Delivering a keynote address at the event, Daniel, said that the future of Nigeria was bright, with right leadership, decisions and policies.
He described vote buying as the menace threatening the nation’s democracy.
According to him, everyone knows what the problems facing Nigeria are, but what is missing are people to provide solutions to the problems.
“We all know what the problems are and we also appear to know what the solutions are, but it appears the persons who will provide the solution is what I think is missing.
“It is impossible to sell an item and still dictate to the buyer how to use it. Once the vote is purchased and sold, you cannot ask how they use what you have sold.
“Nigerians have to realise that the only way to see a developed Nigeria is to ensure that they vote with their brains and not their stomach.
“A night with hunger, I believe, is far better than four years of pains and struggle,” Daniel said.
The former governor, who noted that nobody could save Nigeria except Nigerians, said that for Nigeria to rise and shine, there was need for unity and right leadership.
“The next elections offer us an opportunity to rewrite the destiny of this country, the decision we make next year will be with us for arguably another eight years.
“That is also enough to make the country better or to make it worse.
“Indeed, I can say the future of Nigeria is bright. With the right decisions and policies, we can change the narratives and the state of our nation currently to an enviable position within the shortest possible time,” he said.
According to him, despite the nation’s current challenges, the international community still believes in enormous possibilities Nigeria can drive, if it gets its house together.
“We have to stop dreaming of a better Nigeria and start work towards achieving one.
“It is not enough to have passion or vision; without a roadmap dutifully followed, we will never leave the trenches,” he said.