On Tuesday, Pastor Adewale Giwa, Senior Pastor of the Awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ Ministry, urged political parties to implement direct primaries, emphasising that this is the most effective way to guarantee the rise of superior candidates.
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He underlined that, in contrast to the custom of indirect primaries, direct primaries provide a more transparent means of selecting leaders.
The cleric told reporters this in the capital of Ondo State, Akure, and claimed that indirect primaries frequently produce results that are readily swayed and controlled.
According to him, the indirect system fostered a culture in which candidates’ character and qualities were disregarded in favour of financial inducements, swaying delegates.
He emphasised that the strategy eventually hurts the voters by encouraging godfatherism in the political arena.
Giwa went on to say that the possibility of true progress in a society is seriously undermined when a state depends on a small group of people to choose its leaders.
“What we need is a leader who will be truly elected by the people,” he declared, referring specifically to delegates. Everything that occurs in Nigeria and Ondo State is the responsibility of even the delegates. Even if the top bidder is a really horrible person, they always take money from them. Such a person is usually not expected to grow the state.
Because the results are unaffected by the ruling class, the direct style of basic education is always the best. Now you know why the majority of political parties always favour indirect primaries: to maintain control over the delegates.
“The system has greatly improved with the APC’s acceptance of direct primary in Edo. Any party that does not establish immediate primacy is certain to cause issues and misunderstanding.
“Wretched and evil leaders will always be able to emerge via indirect primary. Direct primary will be based on public opinion. The outcome of an indirect primary will be determined by a small group of people.
“I fail to see the logic in the CAN move that claims Aiyedatiwa is doing well. It’s clear that the governor is continuing to carry out his late principal’s policies. He doesn’t yet have any personal policies of his own. We cannot evaluate him until then.
Giwa went on to say, “Perhaps, Aiyedatiwa becomes governor of Ondo State in November; is he aware of the issues the state is facing? Does he understand what the state needs? Has he visited all eighteen local governments in the state to see what needs to be implemented and what gaps exist? Is he an activist politician who understands the real issues?
“There can be no progress in a society where people are unable to choose their own leaders and instead wait for others to choose them for them.
As a state governor, you should know that if you let someone choose for you, they will undoubtedly want something in return. When he gains authority, a person who arises through a godfather will always be subject to the whims and avarices of that person.
