…Vote buying at Electioneering
In an attempt to tackle poverty and hunger affecting people’s standard of living in Ekiti State, a humanitarian initiative with the aegis of “Food Bank” Centre under the Righteous People’s Movement (TRIPOM) has been inaugurated.
Inaugurating the helping centre on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, the Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church Nigeria and President of African Old Catholic Churches, Most Rev. Oluwaseun Fagbohun, regretted the rate at which Poverty and hunger fuel vote buying during elections and affect the electorate’s conscience.
Bishop Fagbohun warned that hunger and economic deprivation could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, noting that voters struggling to survive are more vulnerable to inducement.
The Cleric expressed concern over rising living costs in the State, claiming Ekiti has recorded some of the highest inflation levels in recent months.
He criticised the overemphasis on political endorsements while economic realities are ignored, maintaining that addressing poverty should be central to governance, especially during an election season, urging leaders to prioritise citizens’ welfare over political campaigns.
The bishop highlighted growing insecurity in the state, citing a recent attack on a church in Eda Oniyo Community of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the State, which he claimed had not received adequate attention.
The Cleric, who also doubles as the convener of the Old Catholic International Missionary Society of St. Christopher & Caritas Sustainable Development Foundation, described the intervention not just as a charity effort, but as a strategic response to economic hardship shaping voter behaviour ahead of the election.
According to him, the concept of the “Food Bank” goes beyond physical food distribution, describing it as a structured support system designed to meet diverse needs, ranging from nutrition to education and financial assistance through verified processes.
He stressed that beneficiaries are carefully selected based on need, insisting the initiative is not an open-access scheme but a targeted intervention to reach the most vulnerable.
His words, “Righteousness is what will change this country. That is why we emphasise not collecting money to vote. If you are given money, return it to the person who gave it to you. We are promoting and upholding righteousness.
“However, you cannot achieve righteousness where there is hunger and the leaders know this. That is why certain things are happening. You may ask why we are launching this initiative in Ekiti.
“Consider the level of inflation there. For the past three months, Ekiti has ranked highest in inflation, though I am not sure if that has changed this month. Yet, we do not hear about this. Instead, all we hear is endorsement as if everything was fine.
“But nobody is speaking the truth. Nobody is saying that living in Ekiti is becoming increasingly difficult. I live in the North, and in Abuja, it is easier to live in Abuja than in Ekiti. Things are cheaper in the North than in Ekiti. Yet, all we hear is endorsement, as though everything is rosy, while the people are hungry.
“That is why we are bringing this initiative. We understand that before telling people not to collect bribes or not to engage in political endorsements for survival, we must first meet their basic needs.
“We must put something in their stomachs so they can listen. Our mission and advocacy revolve around that, providing help and solutions so people can embrace righteousness.
“With 50 days to the election in Ekiti, our message to the people is simple: righteousness, do the right thing. Starting from today, we are launching serious advocacy. We will be on the radio and television. We are available and present in Ekiti at this time, running our programs.
“What we often hear in the media is that everything is fine, which is why some say leaders should return. But when you come to the ground, you see that people are hungry.
“Let there be food for the people. Let the issue of poverty be addressed. And then, security, I do not need to dwell too much on what is already obvious. Consider what happened a few days ago in Ekiti, where a church was attacked, yet it is being downplayed as if it did not happen there. But we are here; we know what is happening.
“Leaders should simply do what they are meant to do, ensure the welfare and security of the people. That is the essence of governance and leadership. We are not asking for too much; we are only asking them to do the right thing”.
Fagboun added that the solution centre is a non-governmental, permanent place to render help, with partners that cut across banking, psychological and spiritual depending on the challenges brought forward.
