‘Don’t Entice Voters With Cash, Gifts’

A monarch, Eze Marcelenus Iheme, has advised politicians to allow vulnerable members of the society to vote candidates of their choice in the 2019 elections and not entice them with cash or material gifts.
Iheme is the traditional ruler of Umuezegwu Autonomous Community in Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State.
He gave the advice in his hometown of Umuezegwu during the conferment of awards and chieftaincy titles on worthy sons and daughters of the community during the celebration of the first anniversary of his reign on the throne.
He said that such practice, if unchecked, could destroy the society and render the electioneering process useless.
“Politicians must learn to allow the will of the people to prevail instead of buying their votes, so that the ideal value of the ballot will not be eroded.
“The electorate must, on the other hand, be upright and not sell their votes because the proceeds can never lift anyone out of poverty.”
Iheme said that if the current menace was not eliminated, the ballot box might lose its value in the coming years.
He stressed that money realised from vote selling and buying could neither lift one out of the shackles of poverty nor effectively address the high level of unemployment in the society.
Iheme commended all the recipients for being frontline philanthropists, adding that their recognition should spur them to more action for the community.