News
We have lost confidence in electoral process – Ondo residents
Some residents of Okitipupa in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State have attributed the lack of confidence in the electoral process to the apathy toward Saturday’s local government election in Ondo State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many residents did not come out to cast their votes at the polling centres across the state.
NAN observed some residents going about their normal businesses while others stayed indoors in parts of the state.
Some private and commercial vehicles, as well as motorcycles, were seen on the roads while a few traders opened their shops to customers.
In separate interviews with NAN on Saturday in Okitipupa, some of the residents said that their votes were not likely to change anything.
They called on the government to find a lasting solution to the poor economy for citizens to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
A commercial driver at the Okitipupa New Garage, who simply gave his name as Segun, told NAN that he had lost confidence in the electoral process and that was why he did not bother to go and vote.
“What have we gained from all the elections we have been participating in? Nothing but untold hardship and hunger
“I no longer have interest in the process,” he said.
Mr Charles Ikuedowo, a commercial motorcyclist, said that there was serious hunger in the country and the only way out now was to be dedicated to work in order to feed the family,” he said.
Also, Madam Felicia Akingbaso, a beverage vendor, said that she considered participation in the election a waste of time.
According to her, politicians seeking votes of the electorate make promises when campaigning, but after their victory, they disappear.
She urged the government to give priority to residents’ welfare for them to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
A charcoal dealer who gave her name as Yetunde said that going to the polling centre to vote was a waste of time. (NAN)
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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