By Tunde Ojudun
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on Nigerians to resist vote-buying and political inducements as the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections.
In an Easter message delivered in Lagos, Dr. Eugene Nweke, NNPP’s Head of Communication and Strategy, described the appeal as a wake-up call to both leaders and citizens. He warned that the culture of immediate gratification has undermined Nigeria’s political and national development.
Nweke urged Nigerians to:
– Hold leaders accountable for past and present performance.
– Rise above ethnic, religious, and sectional sentiments.
– Demand issue-based campaigns and policy-driven debates.
“Every vote cast must reflect a commitment to the future—not a compromise for temporary gains,” he said. “As we approach 2027, this must not be just another electoral cycle—it must be a turning point in our national journey.”
Drawing a comparison with Norway, Nweke noted that while Norway transformed its oil wealth into one of the world’s largest sovereign funds through fiscal discipline and long-term planning, Nigeria’s oil revenues have largely been squandered due to corruption, weak institutions, and policy inconsistencies.
He stressed that Nigeria must urgently recalibrate its governance and economic management systems by:
– Institutionalizing fiscal discipline across all levels of government.
– Diversifying the economy beyond oil.
– Investing strategically in human capital development.
– Enhancing transparency and accountability in public finance.
Nweke concluded by urging leaders to shift from consumption of national wealth to the creation and preservation of lasting value, emphasizing that reforms are not optional but existential imperatives.