Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said the issue of money cannot be eradicated from politics, due to the cost of running election campaigns.
Fashola said this in Lagos on Friday during the discussion of ‘Love does not win elections’, a book written by Ayisha Osori.
The former governor said as chairman of Buhari campaign organisation, he had first hand information on amount spent during campaigns.
Fashola said most of the funds are spent on the media, as well as delegates who will travel with the candidates.
He added that the money spent on delegates cannot be classified as bribe because candidates will remain stagnant if delegates are not settled.
He added that such practice is not unique to Nigerian politicians, adding that it is also practiced by American politicians.
He said, “I was the chairman of the Buhari campaign organisation and I filed my accounts with the party immediately I finished. I filed everything including how much we spent, how much we collected, cash at hand and in bank.
“Where does the money go? Go and ask television stations and the newspapers. Ask the artistes and bloggers. Those who sit on CNN every morning tackling or supporting Trump are not there for free.
“How do you sustain transport to rallies everyday for over 9 months? The cost of a page in the newspaper was N600,000 at one time.”
