Falana, Utomi, Banire launch group to wrestle power out of APC, PDP

Economist, Prof Pat Utomi, human rights activist, Femi Falana and former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muiz Banire were in attendance as a group 40 Million Ballot Movement launched its online portal, geared at getting youths involved in the 2023 general elections.

Speaking at the launch, Utomi said, the nation needs to banish the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Nigeria’s political history having suffered enough from their hands.

“We thought that now that the civilian rule has come, we will be liberated. But over 20 years after, the politicians have set us backwards. We now felt that how could we liberate ourselves from these people, and a simple way was discovered; the ballot. When you stay in your room and read newspapers, the illiterates who would collect cheap money, who are few in number, would go out to vote for them. If only you would register, we will vote these people out.

“You can imagine my excitement when Iyere came up with this initiative. Unfortunately, the leaders too don’t even know the level of damage they are doing to themselves. If only all Nigerians can get their voters card, we will throw out this set of politicians from our political system. We need to prevent APC and PDP from functioning. We just have to send the message that we are so anxious to see the back of these leaders,” Utomi said.

The convener of the movement, Kennedy Iyere, said if all concerned Nigerians got involved in the movement, the country would be better for it.

“The people have the supreme power, let’s go to the market. 40 million ballots is a revolutionary way of claiming power from the people who have oppressed us or else we will continue to have the people who have oppressed us for many years,” he said.

Falana also said that it was not enough to campaign but to educate the voters on what they ought to do. He noted how Nigerians celebrated the signing of the Electoral Bill into law, but that it is not enough to have laws, but that the laws must be implemented and ensure that those who engage in electoral violence are well prosecuted.

“When people talk about 40 million, I wonder, because a political party said it has 40 million members without any register to show for it. But we are talking of genuine 40 million voters and I know you can mobilise more than that. We once have a country that used to be the envy of others in the 50s, 60s and 70s but people like President Muhammadu Buhari have other countries like the United Kingdom, where he goes for medical care,” Falana said.

“I want to associate with the initiative as it is more civilised. As you vote, you must be vigilant so that you are not rigged out. The presumption is that these 40 million people would be the informed class and we will educate the vulnerable, and then we will rejoice together as we rescue this country,” Banire added.