As the strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continues, the body has lamented that it will take a Nigerian professor at least 100 years to save money in order to buy the presidential form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which cost N100million.
ASUU also disclosed that a professor will have to save money for 40 years to purchase the presidential form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is N40million.
ASUU made the claims on Saturday, lamenting 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 made available to newsmen, 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.”