“Yes, I Gave Bribe to Win My Election” –Female Lawmaker Confesses

Of a truth I am not one of those who relish in lampooning Nigeria’s political leaders at the slightest opportunity, in spite of the fact that reasons for one to do so abound in this highly combustible enclave called Nigeria. But since I’m not Jack Bauer - the exceptional lead actor in 24 (season 6) who went through gorilla torture in China for two years without uttering a word - I decided to bring up this negative culture that is fast becoming a fad in virtually all political contest in this country. 

Today a truly decent Nigeria (teacher, lawyer, doctor, police, banker, civil servant), who hasn’t got the opportunity to supervise or manage government contracts and make some illegal 10 percent for himself, does not have any business coming out to contest for high political office. He won’t dare; not when his two years salary put together can’t pay for ordinary “indication of intent form” in the ruling political party. 

By now some of you might be getting impatient, saying mister man please give me the real gist. Ok, fine. Here is the gist... Hon. Saudatu. A. Sanni, a member of the federal House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, sometime ago admitted that she indeed bribed delegates of PDP with over N1million to enable her secure the party’s ticket to contest for House of Reps election. Furthermore, she pointed out that her main opponent also made attempts to out-bid her by paying the delegates higher, but that she scuttled the move by delaying a loan the fellow had gone to apply for in the bank. 

Hon. Saudatu represented Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State from 2003 to 2011 and was chairman house committee on MDGs... So this brings us to the crux of the matter: Are our political leaders serving the interest of the country or theirs? Well, given the manner in which they acquired power, particularly the undercover activities that characterized the last elections, your guess might not be too different from mine.

For the diplomatic cable ‘intercepted’ by Wikileaks on this matter Click HERE >