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  • The Nigerian Voter is a series that seeks to understand the motivations that drive the voting decisions of Nigerians — why they vote, how they choose their candidates, why some have never voted, and their wildest stories around elections.

    This week’s subject of The Nigerian Voter is Kachi*, a businessman in his late 30s who told us about his wildest election story and who he wants to become Nigeria’s next president.

    Have you voted before? 

    I voted for Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 and 2015. 

    Why him?

    I believed Jonathan was the man to take us forward with our economy. I also never saw Buhari as an option, especially with his military history and everything else. 

    How would you define your past voting experience? 

    I voted in Abuja both times. 2015 wasn’t so interesting, but 2011 was fun. We gathered in a primary school and there was no violence. We all stayed and counted the votes in our polling unit and Jonathan won it. I can also remember that was when the smart card reader was introduced and it was a new technology for us. That was the first time we got Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) too. 

    What’s your favourite thing about Nigeria’s electoral system?

    I think it’s the introduction of new technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and others. I think if perfected, they can stop electoral fraud and ensure a better experience for voters.

    What’s your least favourite? 

    I dislike the fact people have to travel to polling units where they registered to vote. I should be able to vote from wherever I am. If I registered in Abuja, but I’m currently in Anambra, I should still be able to vote from Anambra instead of going all the way back to Abuja. It’s a big inconvenience. 

    Any wild election stories?

    I can’t say I had a crazy experience that happened to me personally. But I remember one incident that happened to my colleague in Edo State when we served as election observers for the governorship election in 2020. She was taken by some hoodlums who thought she was an INEC staff. It was crazy. It took like two days for the police to find her. 

    Wild

    Election observers aren’t allowed to interfere with the process of an election by voting and I was observing with an NGO at the time.

    How come you didn’t vote in 2019?

    I had major bone surgery around the elections and wasn’t fit to vote.

    Sorry about that. Are you voting in 2023? 

    Of course, my vote will be for Atiku Abubakar of the PDP. I believe he’s the most experienced candidate at this time. During his tenure as vice president in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, he was basically responsible for Nigeria’s economic gain as the head of the National Economic Council (NEC). 

    That administration recorded the highest level of growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria. Obasanjo attested to Atiku being solely responsible for this. He also presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings a few times when Obasanjo was abroad, not like now when Buhari travels with his full powers without handing over responsibilities to Osinbajo. 

    Is that the bar?

    Atiku has also presented a sound manifesto that calls for restructuring and devolution of powers in Nigeria. This is something I support because I know the job of fixing Nigeria isn’t for one man only. I know whoever is clamouring for restructuring should have the political will, and Atiku has it. 

    He’s been pushing for restructuring since 1999. The PDP has also been pushing for restructuring in one way or the other. The messiah system of governance won’t work. Allow other regions to develop themselves. Buhari decided to run Nigeria as a one-man show, and look where that landed him. Our local governments are doing almost nothing and our state governors are nothing but money sharers. All the tiers of government need to work hard to develop Nigeria. 

    Are you mobilising people to vote? 

    Yes, I’m using my influence on social media to get people to vote. I’ve also bought some campaign materials for my constituency and around Abuja metropolis to be shared. I’m giving my staff an election bonus to be able to travel to their various local government areas to vote. 

  • The Nigerian Voter is a series that seeks to understand the motivations that drive the voting decisions of Nigerians — why they vote, how they choose their candidates, why some have never voted, and their wildest stories around elections.

    The subject of today’s The Nigerian Voter is Abubakar, a 28-year-old project manager and a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). He told us about his voting experiences and why he sees Kwankwaso as his favourite candidate.

    How many times you have voted? 

    I voted for Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, and Atiku Abubakar, also of the PDP, in 2019. 

    Why?

    I’ve never really liked the APC due to their corruption and bias. They’re a result of all the bad leaders Nigeria has produced over the years, and I’ll definitely not want to be part of that kind of political party.

    Where did you vote and what were your experiences like?

    Both times I’ve voted in Kaduna, it’s been nothing but hell. All sorts of corruption go on, from vote buying to actual physical harassment. In 2019, an APC agent tried to give me ₦‎20k to vote for Buhari but I didn’t accept it. I’m casting my vote in Lagos this time so I’m looking forward to a better experience.

    What’s your favourite thing about Nigeria’s electoral system?

    It’s the speed at which the results are processed these days. I’m not a man of patience or suspense, so I’m more for getting things done ‘sharp sharp’. 

    What’s your least favourite? 

    I dislike the manual processes we’re still using for elections in Nigeria. We should have evolved to even online voting by now. If fans can vote online for that reality TV show, Big Brother Naija, why can’t we do that in our own electoral system?

    If you had your way, what would you change about the system?

    I’d automate the entire process and make use of encrypted software. I’d also ensure credible and accountable Nigerians are put in charge of the ballot collation. These Nigerians will be educated and, most importantly, have an accurate moral compass.

    What would you say every voter should consider before choosing a candidate?

    Every voter should choose competence over cheap talk. If there’s one thing I know about politicians, it’s that they talk more than they do. I’d also choose track record because it speaks for itself. You don’t need to convince people all over the country to vote for you when they already know you, your achievements, and what you bring to the table.

    Who are you voting for?

    Rabiu Kwankwaso for president in 2023! I believe he has the integrity, will, and energy to take Nigeria further. APC and PDP have produced elected leaders in the past but we’re still complaining about the most basic things — electricity, insurgency, education, etc. It’s absurd that in 2022, I don’t feel safe enough to use the road to travel to my hometown in Kaduna. 

    And your candidate can fix these things?

    I believe especially in Kwankwaso because of his track record in Kano State, with infrastructure, free feeding for primary school students, and the establishment of the Kano State University of Science and Technology. Also, his experience as a former Minister of Defence will help us with the terrorism issue. Remember, a track record always counts.

    What problems would you like Kwankwaso to solve as president? 

    I’d love for him to tackle terrorism and figure out the economy. Kaduna has suffered insurgency issues which have changed the lives of many people I used to know. We also need to reach a stage in our economy where Nigeria can stand on its own and not borrow every time. I want Nigeria to be a better and safer place for my future children, and I believe Kwankwaso can achieve these dreams.

    Are you mobilising people to vote? 

    During the PVC registration, I got seven of my friends to register for their PVC or apply for renewal. I had to change my voting location too, and I made sure to spread the word at my workplace as well as my mosque. This is the make-or-break election, and Nigerians must be prepared. 

  • The Nigerian Voter is a series that seeks to understand the motivations that drive the voting decisions of Nigerians — why they vote, how they pick their candidates, why some have never voted, and their wildest stories around elections.

    The subject of today’s The Nigerian Voter is Abayomi, a 26-year-old TV presenter in Lagos, Nigeria. He tells us about his reasons for voting for Buhari in both 2015 and 2019, his thoughts on youth participation in politics, and his desire to see Tinubu as president of Nigeria in 2023.

    When was the last time you voted, and who did you vote for? 

    I voted in 2015, and also in 2019. Both times, I voted for Buhari.

    Why did you vote for him twice?

    In 2015, I voted for Buhari because at that point, things were actually going bad in Nigeria with Boko Haram and it looked like Jonathan had basically lost the wheels, like he wasn’t in control.

    In 2019, I voted for Buhari again because he was obviously going to win. Atiku was the only other opponent from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but he was running for president and failing so many times that I didn’t see the point.

    But other candidates were present beside Atiku. Why Buhari still?

    I pride myself as a realist. Even if there are sentiments or optimism, I pride myself as one who is a realist and I knew the elections were between APC and PDP. A lot of things were going on at the time and it looked like things were falling to pieces, but at that point, it was a Buhari over an Atiku for me. 

    The main reason why is that Atiku looks too desperate. He jumps from one party to another. He doesn’t have an ideology to serve. He doesn’t have anything to campaign on.

    Do you feel the same way about Atiku now in 2022?

    It’s the same for me now. 

    And out of the three candidates, Atiku is the least prepared.

    Why do you say is Atiku not prepared?

    He is not prepared in the sense that PDP is falling to pieces. Over the years, Rivers state has produced one of the highest number of votes for PDP every election year, and now he doesn’t have Rivers. And it’s not only Rivers but also, the chief five governors. The issue has been going on for months now and he is not saying anything about it. He’s running a campaign on the theme  “unifier” but his party is currently the most disorganized, and most unprepared.  

    Regardless of how rich he is, or how much money he has, he cannot win the election on money alone. He had the opportunity to be the governor of Adamawa State in 1999, but he opted to be the vice president of Olusegun Obasanjo. It was a two-term tenure that was ridden with open issues between him and the president all through. I don’t think that kind of person is ready to be the president of Nigeria. I don’t think he has anything to offer Nigeria.

    Where did you vote in 2015 and 2019, and what were your experiences? 

    I voted in Bariga in both 2015 and 2019. During those two years, I can say that the voting experience was quite easy. The process especially was very very peaceful here in Bariga.

    Who would you vote for in 2023, and why?

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has my vote, come 2023. I have been a staunch supporter of him as far back as I can remember. I am a student of politics, even as far back as when I was in school, and I can say that Tinubu is the only politician in Nigeria who understands politics.

    What makes you say so?

    Even if a “Jesus Christ” comes down to Nigeria today and says he wants to govern Nigeria, he would first need to belong to a political party, win the ticket, and then play politics before he can become the president of Nigeria. 

    With Tinubu, he has been doing the things everyone else said they’ll do for only God knows how long. Since he entered the political space in Nigeria, he has redefined politics. If you look at his politics objectively, he has built people, structures, made reforms, and built policies. 

    He has a political model that works, whether we like it or not. Yes, Lagos State is far from where it needs to be as a state with the kind of income it generates. It should be competing with the likes of Dubai and other top cities in the world.

    He also has a political ideology that works. They talk of Ambode, Fashola, and Sanwo-Olu, but these are the guys that went on to become governors of Lagos State. They were all previous members of his cabinet in 1999. Fashola was the Attorney-General of the Federation, Sanwo-Olu was a Commissioner, and Ambode was an accountant. 

    He understands that power in governance is a continuum. In the US midterm elections, there were 80-year-olds winning these elections. We don’t make a fuss if this happens in the US, but we make a fuss if a 70-year-old man is running. Why? There are people that have been in the US House of Representatives for their 6th and 7th terms because they understand that governance is a continuum. If a new person should come in, before he figures out a way to adjust the system, his first term has gone.

    So from what you’re saying, you don’t believe in youth participation in politics?

    Before the Not Too Young to Run bill was introduced, we had some young people in politics. Dimeji Bankole was the youngest speaker in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and that was at the age of 36, 37. Fashola, Ambode, and Tinubu, were commissioners under Tinubu’s government in their early forties.

    Yes, youth make up the largest percentage of the population in Nigeria. So they deserve a voice. They deserve to be heard. They deserve to run, and they have been running. There is a popular Fuji musician, Taye Currency, whose son is in his early thirties and is a member of the House of Representatives. This narrative people push of the youth not participating is false. Ibrahim Obanikoro representing Eti Osa 3 LGA under the APC is in his early thirties. He is also in the National House of Assembly. So young people have been running.

    But if a young person deserves the position, do you think there is any need for a continuum?

    In politics, before you can term yourself to be deserving, you must have worked for it. If you believe you deserve it, you work for it. You have to be a part of the process, you have to join parties, and you have to campaign. There are people running for State House of Representative, but if you look at the streets, they’ve not done anything. You do not know them. They only come out when it’s politics. These are people that even when they run for councilors of their various zones, they cannot win.

    On the other hand, someone that is older, can’t speak good English, and is not as smart as you are would be elected over you, simply because he understands that he needs to be able to provide the needs of the electorate.

    What do you think of the controversies that have been surrounding Tinubu as of late?

    People have been saying that Tinubu does not attend debates or important functions. If I were Tinubu, I too would not go for those functions, because they seem to be biased and with a hidden agenda as well. They want to try to humiliate and dehumanize Tinubu publicly. If I sense such, I will not attend as well. A lot of things have been put on social media and that’s why some candidates might win on social media and in real life, they would be a distant third. Social media is a lie and it is really deceptive. I rather not play to what social media guys want and win than please them online and lose elections.

    Regarding the controversies surrounding his certificate and drug trafficking, all of these things have been in the open since 1999. As a matter of fact, people have sued him since his tenure as governor ended in 2007. If he was still in office, I can understand because he’d still have immunity as governor. But he hasn’t been in governance for the past 15 years now.

    There are people in charge of these narratives on social media and they take charge of social media. So leave the social media space for them.

    Do you also think that Tinubu is too sick to rule?

    When Buhari was first inaugurated in 2015, there were talks that he may not be able to last a single term because of his frequent medical travels abroad. But he has done eight years now. . All through the primaries when Tinubu’s hand was shaking as he held the flag, I found it funny that people were surprised because the man is 70 years old. 

    He would feel some sort of fatigue if he had to do that for hours. But guess who has been able to visit all arms of APC in the span of three years? Tinubu. Guess who has been moving across the country since he got back from London? Tinubu. If he can keep moving about this way and people say he is too ill to run, then I don’t know what ill health is.

    What are the changes you wish to see from Tinubu if elected as president?

    First, if Tinubu is elected as president, I want him to cut down on the cost of governance. It’s a major challenge. Our economy is drastically bad yet the cost of governance hasn’t been reduced. He needs to cut down on the cost of governance.
    Secondly, the fact that we are a producer of oil that imports oil kills me every time. It makes no sense that we have about four refineries and none is working. We’ve even incurred debts on an annual basis on maintaining refineries that are not functional. If he can privatise all refineries and ensure that they begin to work, it will make sense. Once we can start refining our oil and manufacturing natural gas, our economy will be better.

    We also need to have more professionals in their respective positions. He has shown that he isn’t one to play party politics over competence.

    On the issue of security, of the three candidates in Nigeria, he is the only one without a known bias toward any of the insurgencies in Nigeria – be it ISWAP, IPOB, Boko Haram, etc. Nobody has a direct solution for insecurity in Nigeria but I expect him to bring local and international experts to see how they can bring a total end to the insecurity crisis we have in Nigeria.

    If elected, how do you think Tinubu’s presidency will impact you?

    It will definitely make a positive impact. If he improves the economy, my cost of living will reduce drastically. If there are no insecurity issues in Nigeria, I’d be able to travel by road. If the refineries are fixed, the price of fuel will reduce. These are some of the things that will impact me in a Tinubu presidency.

  • The Nigerian Voter is a series that seeks to understand the motivations that drive the voting decisions of Nigerians — why they vote, how they pick their candidates, why some have never voted, and their wildest stories around elections.

    The subject of today’s The Nigerian Voter is Safiya, a Muslim lady from Kaduna State in her twenties. She moved to Lagos in 2018 in search of greener pastures. She told us about her past experience voting in the North, and her views on religion and tribalism when it comes to the voting process. 

    What made you come from Kaduna to Lagos?

    I moved here in 2018. The economy is very poor there in Kaduna and farmers are not making ends meet. Here in Lagos, I am making more money than my secondary school teacher and I can employ him, even with my mama put business.

    So that being said, I came to Lagos to get what I want, which is a better life for myself. Kaduna was just too poor and it is not safe with Boko Haram attacks here and there. Most people living in the North are just branching out to different parts of the country. 

    Have you ever voted before?

    Yes, I have. 

    In 2019, I went to Niger State to vote (since that was where I registered), but it was a terrible experience because the INEC chairmen there did not allow one to vote. 

    It’s only the people that settled them with money (bribes) that they allowed to vote. If you don’t settle them well, the vote will not count.

    Have you ever faced any form of harassment during voting?

    Yes oh, very well. 

    I can remember an INEC guy slapping me across the face because I was arguing with someone that jumped the queue. Unknown to me, the person had already bribed this guy with N20,000, which back then, was a lot of money in the North. 

    Even a pregnant woman nearly lost her baby in my presence because she was pushed down with violent force. It was a really tough time.

    Who did you vote for then and why?

    That time, I voted for Buhari, because I was scared that nobody else would win if I voted for them. I know that with these elections, if someone is running for office a second time, it’s that person that will win. 

    So since 2019 was for Buhari’s second tenure, I just voted for him anyway.

    Do you regret voting for Buhari now?

    Ah, well, sometimes I wish I had the courage to vote for someone else. 

    Atiku may not be the best person for Nigeria, but he is better than this Buhari. Anyways, I’m just hoping that 2023 will be different with the right person, insha’allah.

    Who would you vote for in 2023 and why?

    Peter Obi, because we need an educated person that can develop the country financially. People know that supporting businesses will reduce the financial pressure on them as a government, instead of simply encouraging the usual employment by people. 

    Peter Obi has these ideas. And you know Igbos, they’re quite skilled with this business thing. So I know he would create financial freedom for businesses. We would also have our own Nigerian-made stuff instead of importing. I don’t trust men like Tinubu to deliver, and Atiku should go and rest. The man has been running for president ever since I was in primary school. 

    Igbo men are always very successful in business, so I know that if I vote for Obi, he will create ways for businesses to grow. Maybe I can get a restaurant instead of this mama put.

    But would you say religion should be a big part of your criteria for a candidate?

    Look ehn, Nigeria is the way that it is now because we are all voting based on tribe or religion. In 2015, my people voted for Buhari because he is from the North, but look at how that turned out. If I was ever told that my own Northern Muslim brethren could treat us this way, making us become refugees in other parts of the country, I would never have believed it. 

    Election is not about religion or tribalism. We need to vote for the right person. It is religion and tribalism that made us vote for Buhari the first time, and look at where that turned out. I can’t vote for Tinubu because he extorts people, and he doesn’t care. 

    Look at this flooding crisis for instance that happened in Kogi State. Did Tinubu ever go to visit any of those victims? How many days passed before Atiku visited? It was only Obi that had enough sense to go to those places and sympathize with them, and help them. Why would I not vote for that kind of leader? 

    Tinubu said emi l’okan and they’re playing with the presidential seat as some sort of royal seat that is turn by turn. Is it a royal family thing, that you’re saying emi l’okan? Rubbish. This time, we need to all vote and our vote has to count!

    Who are the people you know voting for? 

    It’s still Peter Obi oh, even in the North. 

    I can’t say I know a single person that wants to vote for Atiku or Tinubu. It’s because my own people are all into a business and they’ve seen that Peter Obi is their man. They will go to the polls en-masse in 2023 and cast their vote!

  • The Nigerian Voter is a series that seeks to understand the motivations that drive the voting decisions of Nigerians — why they vote, how they pick their candidates, why some have never voted, and their wildest stories around elections.

    The subject of today’s The Nigerian Voter is Victor, a 32-year-old energy commodity market analyst in Berlin, Germany. He told us about his reasons for leaving the country, his views on diaspora voting, and many more.

    Why did you leave Nigeria? 

    I left in December 2020 because I won a scholarship to study renewable energy engineering in Berlin, Germany. I wasn’t ready to pass that up because I had worked hard for it for a long time. 

    Did you consider how leaving the country would affect your ability to vote?

    It’s actually not something I thought of at the time. All I knew was that I have a scholarship in Germany and I must go. The election was the furthest thing from my mind, especially since I’ve never voted in Nigeria.

    Why?

    I felt it was a pointless exercise when they’d just rig to get their preferred candidate in anyway. This was until 2020 when #EndSARS happened — people were killed, and so brutally too, without any warning, without any justification. I just felt that omo, we have to be more involved in our country’s politics. If we don’t make any efforts to change the politicians, they’ll stay there and they’ll continue to be more corrupt. This may be cliché, but the power is in our hands big time.

    If you were still in Nigeria, would you feel the need to vote in 2023? 

    Yes, because this is the most crucial point in time for Nigerians to vote. I still follow everything that goes on in the country. Half of the country is flooded and yet our leaders are travelling out. The naira is currently 800 to a dollar and yet the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has decided to redesign our notes. Nothing like a direction, nothing like a plan. Insecurity has engulfed the northern region — everything is going haywire. If we don’t vote right this time, Nigeria will fall as a republic in the next 10 years. Mark my words.

    What would you say every voter should consider before choosing a candidate? 

    Competence, but based on track record. 

    Let me use an example. Did you know that the Blueline project in Lagos, which was supposed to run from Mile 2 to somewhere on the island, has been under construction for 13 years? They started that project back in 2009 when I was in my second year of university. They’ve spent $1.5 billion on that project for only 27 km. Ethiopia which did the exact same project did theirs to cover 750km in less than six months. 

    The point I’m trying to make is, there’s a certain bare minimum of competence that Nigerian leaders must have, and we’re always forgetting that bare minimum. Someone who can leave a project hanging for 13 years and spend billions in public funds on this same project doesn’t deserve to be a leader. 

    What’s your favourite thing about Nigeria’s electoral system? 

    The adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

    Can you explain BVAS to me like I’m five years old?

    BVAS is more or less a machine used to verify voters using their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). It’s meant to know if you’re really a registered voter or not. 

    It’s my favorite thing because I can remember how things used to be with long manual authentication processes. The BVAS is a welcome change. 

    What do you dislike the most about Nigeria’s electoral system? 

    The non-inclusion of diaspora voting. Nigerians in the diaspora contribute a lot more to this country than average Nigerians realize. The diaspora remittance in 2020 — or was it 2021 — was over $20 billion. That’s a lot of money and it goes to show that every Nigerian outside the country has invested interest in this country. 

    I’ve lived in Germany, Switzerland, and Egypt, but Nigeria is the only place that qualifies as home. I’d do anything possible to go back home when I achieve what I want to achieve here. I know Nigerians here who are just waiting for the right atmosphere, and the right leadership so that they can go and invest all their resources there. I’d rather build my fatherland than build the land of colonialists. 

    Diasporans should have a say and their voices should be heard. If anyone at home needs urgent ₦2k, it’s us they’ll run to. 

    Look at Kenya, which has five foreign countries where diasporans can vote. It shouldn’t be rocket science. If you have an international passport, that’s a unique ID. A Nigerian in the diaspora should be able to go to the embassy in their country of residence and vote. Officials can collate the ballots and send them to Nigeria. But instead, we hear that we can’t vote. What’s so difficult there? 

    Who would you vote for?

    Peter Obi for president and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour for Lagos State governor.

    Do you plan on coming back in 2023 to vote for your candidates? 

    No. The benefit-to-cost ratio for me flying back to add one vote is too low when I can use the same funds to contribute to sensitisation that can mobilise more voters already on the ground.

    How do you plan to show your support for the candidates from abroad? 

    Through sensitisation by engaging with my sphere of influence — family and friends — and monetary contributions. 

    Generally, what would you change about Nigeria’s electoral system? 

    I’d ensure there’s no clause that excludes the deployment of BVAS, and also increase the scrutiny of INEC. We should deploy live and visual updates on the electoral process that every stakeholder can see in real-time.

    What are the qualities you want to see in Nigeria’s next president? 

    Competence, one with regard for merit and one with a profound connection with the masses.

  • The Nigerian Voter is a series that seeks to understand the motivations that drive the voting decisions of Nigerians — why they vote, how they pick their candidates, why some have never voted and their wildest stories around elections.

    For our pilot edition of The Nigerian Voter, Citizen discussed with Mama Ibeji*, a Nigerian woman, in her late 40s, who sells fabrics at Tejuosho Market, Lagos State. She told us about her voting experiences, preferred candidate, and the impact elections have had on her livelihood.

    For how long have you worked in the market now? What do you sell?

    I have worked there for over five years now. I sell crepe, chiffon, organza — clothing materials in general.

    Have you voted before? 

    This country ehn, there’s nothing that used to make me vote before. The only time I voted was in the “Sai Baba” (Muhammadu Buhari) period in 2015. I remember them sharing all these small bags of rice then and I thought Buhari would end all the nonsense that happened regarding Boko Haram and the Chibok girls at that time. I didn’t know his tenure would be worse than Jonathan’s own.

    Do you remember what the voting process was like in 2015?

    Hmmm, not so much o. I know that I went to Oke-Odo Primary School to vote because the place is located near my house. I stood under the sun for many hours, but I was able to vote before evening time. 

    Why didn’t you vote again after 2015?

    I didn’t because I was no longer interested. When I heard that Buhari was running for president again in 2019, I became disinterested in the whole affair of voting because I knew that Tinubu would help him win. It was best that I focused on my business.

    Hmm. How do you then feel about Tinubu running for president in 2023?

    He shouldn’t run at all. That one that his hands shake. He has not done anything for Lagos o, that one is not my president.

    How’s the election season affecting your business?

    With the state of the country right now, money is not in circulation. But I know that when elections come, candidates release money for campaigns. The market may change by then.

    Also, a lot of agberos (street touts) are on the streets in Tejuosho. They don’t want us to rest, with their consistent demands of owo da (where is their money?) They’re so eager to collect money that they didn’t work for. 

    What’s the money used for?

    The agberos say the money is for the government, for the local government. But some people also say that Tinubu also owns the money as well.

    How much do you pay?

    It depends. Sometimes we pay ₦1,000 every market day, and our market days fall on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

    Hmm, that’s ₦3,000 every week?

    Yes o. Some people pay ₦3,000 per market day, it depends on the portion of space that each trader owns. 

    Who do you plan to vote for 2023, and why?

    If I’ll vote, it’s Peter Obi I’ll vote for. This present government has shown us shege — the dollar rises all the time and the market doesn’t have a steady price. Even buying goods for sale seems pointless because it’s highly unlikely that we would buy those goods for the same price tomorrow. And everything happened under APC. I’m tired.