A professor of sociology, Lai Olurode has called on eligible Nigerian voters to look out for candidates with integrity, focus and political ethics, while advising them to pay less attention to the political parties of such candidates.
The University don, who was a former National Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and is the current Chairman of the University of Lagos Muslim Community, made his submissions while speaking to Muslim News, noting that the candidates who stand on the side of honour and truth are the best.
His remarks came few days after the Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i advised Nigerians to cast their votes for politicians who are competent, regardless of their religious and ethnic affiliations.
According to the Prof Olurode, “What really matters is the quality of these candidates. We should look out for candidates with integrity and focus, who give primary concern to ethics of politics”.
“On the election day, the best candidate is he who stands on the side of honour and justice. It doesn’t matter if that person is going to win or lose, you have taken a decision to stand with truth, integrity and firmness and that I think is what matters”.
He therefore advised Nigerians to speak with their votes for truth during the election and bestow their trust on reliable candidates.
In his words; “Voting for someone is like a trust. You have said this is the person I can trust. Someone you can trust for the next 4 years or more, who would not betray your trust”.
“You yourself know that the person may not have the money but with your vote plus his and that of his family, he would know that some people stood by him and he is recognised by some people as someone who is deserving of a vote”.
“Let’s pull resources together on the side of truth, integrity and trust”, he added.
