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Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by Zenanted(m): 1:23pm On Oct 23, 2011 |
THE much-awaited local government election in Lagos State took place Saturday October 22, in the 20 local governments recognised by the Federal Government and the state-created 36 local council development areas. It was the first time the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fully participated in the council polls, having previously raised issues of legality of the 36 LCDAs. It was, however, a shame of an election as eligible voters literally chose to stay away, saying there was no reason to bother as government had failed to solve the most basic of problems, among them road repairs. In all the council areas, the turnout of voters was abysmally low. Barely 10 per cent of registered voters cast their votes in the various polling booths visited, and the voters register itself only includes roughly 30 per cent of eligible adults. This apathy in the view of analysts signals loss of confidence in government by the people and a foreboding of a people's revolution, similar to what happened lately in several Maghreb countries. Most of those who spoke with The Moment on Sunday did not consider as far-fetched a civil upheaval that would upturn the status quo. For instance, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said the people are fed up with government, as it has disappointed the people. 'All they tell Nigerians are lies. There is no more confidence in the government. They collect taxes from the people and use it for purposes that do not serve the interest of the people. All the government talk about is increase in taxes, in rates, removal of fuel subsidy. And all the people get from the government is pain and increase in suffering', Agbakoba said. He expressed disappointment in his learned colleague, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State, who he said he thought was doing very well. 'His achievements have waned', Agbakoba said. 'Even my favourite governor, Peter Obi, has laid the foundation for the loss of APGA in Anambra in 2014 by not performing'. Similarly, Tunji Shelle, a retired Navy Captain and state's secretary of the PDP in Lagos, said he is not surprised at the turnout. Shelle offered that the local government system in the state has been bastardised by lack of conscience by the state government and the greed of the godfathers in the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). 'They have succeeded in pocketing the imposed chairmen in the hands of the ACN's government that relies on loading ballot boxes to win rather than good governance. Who is to blame? Of course, the elites are the ones overrating Fashola's government, thereby, distorting the real situation of governance in the state', he said. 'It is very sad because we shall all be made to pay the price for deceit, propaganda and cheating. I don't foresee a revolution but definitely some greedy and fake democrats in the system will not go unpunished', Shelle added. Another PDP's chieftain, the party's senatorial candidate in Lagos Central, Alhaji Tolagbe Animashaun, pronounced an inevitable revolution. His words: 'I agree with the postulation that the low turn-out signals an inevitable revolution in Lagos State. Their apathy is borne out of the belief that their votes will never count as the ruling ACN's government will rig the outcome, anyway'. A number of ACN's leaders, among them Cardinal Odunbaku and the state's publicity secretary, Joe Igbokwe, declined to pick their calls. |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by Kobojunkie: 2:00pm On Oct 23, 2011 |
Zenanted: It is definitely a shame on those who refused to show up. Abstaining from voting is NOT an option. |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by dankol: 9:08pm On Oct 23, 2011 |
U tink so. It is beta i sleep at hom dan go out dere wastin my time votin on an already concuded election. What is d Value added even if i vote, |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by Omooba77: 9:22pm On Oct 23, 2011 |
I learnt Joe Igbokwe just left channels TV,speaking nothing but jagons. Even when ACN lost in Shomolu and some other places and are not ready to concede defeat. |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by Nobody: 6:33am On Oct 24, 2011 |
dankol: |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by Beaf: 6:38am On Oct 24, 2011 |
People have seen through the annoying dross we were being sold. There is hope for Nigeria. |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by daphil: 7:54am On Oct 24, 2011 |
can somebody kindly give us the lagos state lga election results update? |
Re: Citizens Of Lagos State Lost Interest In Voting by ifyalways(f): 7:59am On Oct 24, 2011 |
I was in Ikoyi on saturday, people did dare the rain and trooped out to vote. |
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