Don’t sell your votes for N500, religion, learn from Osun – Yusuf tells northern voters

Professor Yusuf Usman, a former NHIS chairman, addressed northern Nigerian voters on the importance of their right to vote and the consequences of their political choices. He criticized the deployment of over 30,000 security personnel in Osun State for the election, which he deemed excessive and aimed at intimidating voters. Usman argued that the presence of security forces did not deter the Osun electorate from casting their votes.

He further accused politicians of using public funds to buy votes, suggesting that while voters in Osun received thousands of naira, those in the north were offered mere N500 and noodles. Yusuf urged voters to consider the long-term effects of their decisions, emphasizing that they possess the power to choose their leaders. He also criticized the continued use of religious identity as a tool for political mobilisation, asserting that it should not replace effective governance.

Usman highlighted ongoing issues such as poverty, insecurity, and lack of access to education in the north, urging a focus on addressing these social problems rather than perpetuating the "Muslim-Muslim" scam. He concluded by distancing himself from religious leaders who he claimed were profiting from their involvement in political campaigns.