Nigerian politicians can buy everybody to get into office, says Achike Udenwa

Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo, says any politician with the right amount of money can buy their way into office.

Udenwa spoke while appearing on State Affairs, a political podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, a broadcast journalist.

In an excerpt of the episode posted on Saturday, Udenwa said the electorate no longer questions the character, antecedents, or backgrounds of politicians who come to seek their support.

“We don’t ask such questions again,” he said. “And, of course, even if I don’t vote for you, you can buy your way through if you have the right amount of money.”

When asked if politicians could buy the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, the army, and the voters, he replied: “You can buy everybody.”

Udenwa criticised the quality of leaders in the country, saying the problem is at the heart of the administrative crisis.

“You do all sorts of things to become governor. ‘I want to be minister, I want to be senator’ and the rest of them, but most of these people don’t have the quality of a leader,” he said.

“Square pegs in a round hole; that is part of the problems we have,” he added.

The former governor said most leaders are only attracted to the benefits of the office they seek to occupy.

He said the issue must be addressed for the country to progress.