2023: THE HIGHEST SPENDER, NOT THE BEST CANDIDATE, WILL WIN – AFE BABALOLA

Afe Babalola, a leading legal scholar, said that Nigeria’s upcoming presidential election on February 25 will be won by the greatest spender, not the best candidates.

Babalola announced this during a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.

He voiced concern that the 2023 general elections will be held in accordance with the 1999 constitution, despite his recommendations, and that the poll will merely reproduce those who have brought Nigeria to its current position.

“It is not who can make a difference that will win this election; I repeat, it is not the person who has all it takes – age, health, education, and patriotism – that will win the election; the victor of this election, I can wager, will be the guy who has made money in this country,” he stated.

“The guy with the most money will win,” the legal titan added.

According to Babalola, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent endorsement of Peter Obi of the Labour Party does not take into account the role money bags would play in the election.

Only a new constitution with rigorous requirements for political candidates would save Nigeria from total collapse, according to him.

“A man who aspires to dominate the entire country or any part of the country should be checked,” Babalola remarked. Has he ever worked before, what type of work did he perform, did he steal there, was he a competent manager, does he pay his taxes on time, and what contributions to society has he made?

“You cannot just come from nothing and become president, become governor, become member of house; these are transactional business men.

“I continue to believe that any election held under the current 1999 Constitution cannot and will not produce new leaders with new ideas; rather, any election held under the 1999 Constitution will merely recycle people who have brought Nigeria to grinding poverty, unemployment, under-funded education, and insecurity,” he said.