Boycotting the nomination process or cash trapped?

Another hullabaloo is brewing over who is to pay or who is not to pay the nomination fees as stipulated by the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The commission in its wisdom has deemed it expedient to peg the range of payment as it were for the different categories of positions with an expectation that the various candidates and their political outfits can safely meet the required figures.

Some aspirants and their parties have applauded NEC but others remain adamant and have opted for a review, or rather a slice, in the fee charging that is skyrocketing.

Reminiscing on an old adage ‘every jack-ass wants to be a parliamentarian…’ could not be limited to reasons why the elections governing body had decided to levy such monies so that whosoever will come.

Just the other day, it emerged that seven political parties agreed to boycott the nomination fees purportedly approved by the honorable House of Parliament.

An exhaustive meeting was also held by the Political Parties’ Registration Commission (PPRC) and the various political parties, witnessed by the visiting ECOWAS Commission, where the political parties signed a press release that they will be refraining from taking part in the nomination process until further notice. Parliamentarians and party leaders vouched to stage a boycott in parliamentary proceedings too. At this the ECOWAS Commission in Sierra Leone was left with the only alternative but to refer to the foregoing as a serious issue and therefore preferred a consultation with stakeholders in a bid to address it.

Our concern is that these positions that people are clamoring for are not meant for peasants. This is why when people assume these positions the first thing that comes to their minds is to amass wealth at the detriment of the people.

Others have argued that with such a huge amount imposed on political parties and their aspirants, it might scare away deprived and spare affluent people the opportunity to rule without fear that our funds will be pilfered.

Meanwhile let us find a more responsible way solve the nation’s prevailing strife and spurn violent methods in seeking solutions or redress to certain issues of national concern.

The election timetable has commenced and with D-day around the corner, let us concentrate on the things that will foster a credible poll to the admiration of our god fathers and the world at large.

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