Fashola advocates compulsory voting without voting in anger
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Babatude Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), wants an amendment to the Constitution to make it compulsory for eligible citizens to vote in elections, classifying it as a duty, not a right.
The former Lagos Governor who is now Works and Housing Minister floated the idea at the sixth annual BRF GABFEST in Lagos with the theme, “What are you voting for?”
He was reacting to the surge in registration for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), particularly by the youth, and explained what should motivate citizens to get involved in voting their representatives into elective offices.
Voting is not compulsory in the United States and the United Kingdom, the bastions of democracy.
But there are a couple of countries from Africa, the Americas and Europe to Asia and Oceania with compulsory voting laws. They include Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and Fiji Islands.
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Democracy requires constant modification
Fashola argued that no system is perfect, democracy does not necessarily guarantee good governance, and insisted Nigeria is not hopeless case.
“Democracy is not divine. It’s a man-made idea – created by men. Democracy is not perfect and so, must be constantly modified. It’s the combination of the instrument, institution and citizens that can guarantee good governance,” he argued.
He stressed the need for people to continue to build, and urged citizens, especially the youth, not to vote in anger, according to The Guardian (Nigeria).
“You can’t make decisions in anger because anger is not a strategy. I urge you to make your choices, not in anger. I order you to vote by looking at what the candidates have done before and what they say they are likely to do.
“I order you to act like proper employers, who interview candidates before they take them. In exercising that right, you don’t get angry, you don’t recruit in anger, you recruit by sound reasoning.”
Importance of local government
Fashola, who governed and improved Lagos for eight years from 2007 to 2015, also spoke about the three arms of government and how much influence each has in shaping Nigeria.
“The local government is the most important branch of government. Let us pay attention to the local government because we all seem to be fixated on who becomes the President.”
This year’s hybrid BRF GABFEST started with a panel discussion centered on the qualities of the next set of leaders Nigerians should look out for.
Six panelists drawn from various fields of endeavour spoke extensively on governance and provided constructive insights into nation-building and the 2023 ballot.
Fashola established BRF GABFEST as part of efforts to create a platform for the active involvement of the youth in Nigeria’s future.
