Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Thursday blamed politicians for undermining the electoral process in the country.
He said bad politicians groom boys whom they use as political thugs, while they send their children to good schools abroad.
Jonathan warned that until votes begin to count, the wrong people will continue to occupy leadership offices.
He said: “Politicians will hire a group of boys and begin to feed them like dogs…. for elections, meanwhile they send their children abroad schooling in the best universities in the world, but the children of others will be their thugs. They can die; it does not matter to them.
Jonathan spoke in Port-Harcourt during a book presentation, ‘In the cause of service’ by a former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby.
The ex-President, who was the Special Guest of Honour, blamed corrupt politicians for the country’s woes.
He reiterated the call for the adoption of the electronic system of voting to end electoral malpractices and their ills in governance.
He said: “The assumption is that every politician is useless, but the question of whether people change when they are elected into public office is something political analysts, researchers should unravel.
“However, I believe that people do not change when they get into political office, rather we voted for people we do not know.
“It is difficult to know people until you give the person political office and public funds to spend, that’s when you know the true character of such fellow.” he said.
Speaking further, the former President said, “Another key issue is that we do not vote people into leadership offices, they use different means to get into office.
“However, I believe that people do not change when they get into political office, rather we voted for people we do not know.
“It is difficult to know people until you give the person political office and public funds to spend, that’s when you know the true character of such fellow.” he said.
Speaking further, the former President said, “Another key issue is that we do not vote people into leadership offices, they use different means to get into office.
“When we develop as a nation to a point where our votes count, when people vote who they believe in, the behaviour of politicians will change.”
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