By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Worried by voter apathy recorded in the last general election, which clearly smears the political status of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola amongst their contemporaries from other states of Nigeria, eligible voters have been urged to be more responsible and involved in their political emancipation.
The Lagos State Chairman of the (IBORA) Hon.Fatusi Abiodun,while speaking at a stakeholders parley held within Ajeromi Ifelodun part of the Lagos West Senatorial district, stressed the need to adjust the voting pattern especially in the Southwest to be at par with their contemporary state.
Fatusi maintained that given what transpired at the last election,where votes garnered from Lagos State was a far cry of what obtains in contemporary states like Kano and Kaduna with millions of votes, it speaks volume and caught the attention of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Aregbesola for which the duo mandated the group to kick start and herald a more responsible social involvement of people in performance of their civic duties of casting their votes.
The All Progressives Congress stakeholders from various local government areas were in attendance to chart a course towards increasing the voting base, in terms of figures so as to double the figures of active electorates to bring good fortune for Southwest block.
“Electorates acceptability is key and must reflect figures like what obtains in Kano and Kaduna; we urged all to evolve a new voting pattern through timely action to rewrite the narrative in terms of participation, most especially in the west. “At times we make verbal campaigns that we are going to galvanize 2million or 3million men on the street but during actual election the votes are nothing to write home about, compared with what the northern states churn out in votes.
“Ibora is all about the core values of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the ideology and experience imbibed from his leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are to be the middle men between the public office holder and the people, so when any of them refuse to do the needful we put them on their toes.
“The electorates are discouraged, so we want to encourage them, we had to meet the community members to restore confidence, they will feel and experience the positive effect of good governance, we are calling on the people to do what is right and at the right time, we want to
increase the voting strength in every part of Lagos and Nigeria,” Fatusi reiterate.
The Supervisor for Works and Infrastructure Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA and National President of ‘I Believe in Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’ (IBORA),Alhaji Abdulwahab Ajulo commenting on the importance of the group noted that the voter apathy at the last general election makes the move essential and apt.
“We want to educate people and make the nation realize that Lagos State is densely populated and the issue of national unity, development and progress of the country is our main concern. Also to sensitize the people that the election should reflect that Lagos is a densely populated area when compared to what obtains in the northern states.”
So we want people to know that our
civic, social responsibility is a major concern that will actually promote the
image of the state in a better light. Some instead of performing their civic
responsibility, stay indoors or go to the field to play football when they
supposed
to be at the polling units to perform that obligation.
“The purpose of this gathering today to galvanize and sensitize people
towards a better performance in future elections. It has been discovered that
no amount of verbal campaigns made prior to election can translate to huge
electorates participation owing to some of their basic expectations and needs
not yet met.”
The former Vice Chairman of Ajeromi
Local Government Alhaja Kudirat Dada also part of the IBORA vanguard
corroborated the core values of the group, stating unequivocally that it appeals
to all electorates irrespective of their party affiliations, sensitizing them
to shun parochial stance in doing their civic obligation.
The Convener of IBORA, Hon.Ishola Olaosebikan in his own contribution cited the
fact that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is particular about restoring people’s
confidence in electoral process, through visible development and he has
mandated them to watch and address issues that bothers on people’s welfare.
“We were recently at Abule Egba to do on spot assessment of a failing road
network and we wrote the state in that regards, as I speak something concrete
is being done to revamp that infrastructure that is part of IBORA’s numerous
efforts, toward nation building.”Olaosebikan
said.