Technocrat Media
Former inspector-general of police, Mike Okiro, has narrated how some politicians pushed him to contest for FCT senatorial seat in Abuja, spent all his savings, and lost the election.
The former police chief was Nigeria’s inspector-general between 2007 and 2009, appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He retired on July 24, 2009, after clocking the age of 60 years.
In 2010, Mr Okiro who is from Rivers State, declared his interest to represent the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial in the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He failed to clinch the ticket of the PDP.
The former police chief spoke about his experience on Thursday during a public event in Abuja, organised by New Nigeria Dream Initiative and streamed live on Facebook.
Mr Okiro said both politicians and citizens are responsible for the current problems in the country.
He noted that the issue of vote-buying is seriously affecting the country’s democracy.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 general elections, he asked Nigerians to vote for politicians who will deliver dividends of democracy, saying “enough is enough” of bad governance.
He said: “Sometimes, the politicians are at fault but we have more faults than the politicians. I have experience. But I corrected myself when I said bye-bye to bad things.
“I contested election in Abuja here for senate. I was on my own when they called me to come and contest. I said I have just retired, they said no, come and contest. I said okay, I will discuss it with my wife.
“So, they would come to me and say we want to go here, bring money, we want to do this, bring money, we want to do that, bring money. I gave all my savings and nothing again to give.
“It got to a point they came one day and I said I have nothing to give. They told me the former man was not doing very well and that I should come and salvage the people.
He added that such practices encourage corruption and asked the electorate and politicians to ”say no to election vote-selling”.
“Nigeria leaders cannot change unless we change. The N5000 they give is your due for four years,” he said.
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