….charge politicians to be accountable
By TopNews
Concern residents in Ekiti Central Senatorial District have called on the lawmakers representing the state the State and National Assemblies to deliver on their electioneering campaign to the people of Ekiti.
The group under the Justice Development and Peace Initiative, (JDPI), Catholic Diocese of Ekiti in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti Council rated the two lawmakers representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituencies at the National Assembly, Biodun Omoleye and Olusola Fatoba below expectation in the last few years in the saddle.
The duo were rated very poor especially in the areas of engagement with the people, education of the people on government policies, capacity building, accessibility and connection with their route.
Speaking on the available report gathered through investigation, the Director, Justice Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI), Catholic Diocese of Ekiti State, Rev. Father Emmanuel Akingbade hinted that a total numbers of two hundred (200) residents were engaged with an exclusive interview on one-on-one basis, and their responses were carefully collated and analysed with Pivot Table, and interpreted
using Likert Scale tool to come out with report.
His words: “Those interviewed who were farmers, traders artisans, civil servants and other members of the public confirmed that the duo of Biodun Omoleye and Olusola Fatoba have not held any town hall meeting and have not been accessible to their constituents since after their elections.
Rev. Akingbade also said, “some of the empowerment which involved distribution of hair dryers, clippers, sewing machines and other items carried out by the lawmakers were basically shared among close relatives and party members.
The report reads: ”On Hon. Biodun Francis Omoleye, a total number of 115 persons were randomly interviewed, 42% of whom were men and 58% were women; 51% were Farmers/Traders/Artisans, 7% were Civil Servants/Public Officers/Government Employed, 28% were Self Employed/Private Sector Employed, 8% were Traditional Rulers/Clergies/Retirees, 1% were unemployed, and 3% were students. 85% of the interviewed do not belong to any political party.
On awareness and accessibility of the people to the representative – 51% of respondents know the Honourable. However, 99% do not know whether he has a constituency office.
Engagement with the constituents – 97% of the people interviewed did not know whether he has held any town hall meeting with the people of the constituency. On the question of whether he has
at any time interacted with the people of the constituency to explain any policy of the government to them, 94% responded in the negative. On closeness to the people of his constituency, he was rated very poor, and in terms of overall performance, they rated him 2 over 6.
“When asked on whether the respondents were aware of any constituency project initiated in their constituency by the Honourable, 83% of the people interviewed were not aware.
“On Hon. Olusola Steve Fatoba, a total number of 85 persons were randomly interviewed, 40% of whom were men and 60% were women; 43% were Farmers/Traders/Artisans, 19% were Civil Servants/Public
Officers/Government Employed, 19% were Self Employed/Private Sector Employed, 5% were Traditional Rulers/Clergies/Retirees, 8% were unemployed, and 5% were students. 78% of the interviewed do not belong to any political party.
On Awareness and accessibility of the people to tHon Fatoba – 68% of respondents know the Honourable. However, 91% do not know whether he has a constituency office. Engagement with the constituents – 78% of the people interviewed did not know whether he has held any town hall meeting with the people of the constituency. On the question of whether he has at any time interacted with the people of the constituency to explain any policy of the government to them, 90% responded in the negative. On closeness to the people of his constituency, he was rated poor. In terms of overall performance, they rated him 3 over 6.
When asked on whether the respondents were aware of any constituency project initiated in their constituency by the Honourable, 78.3% of the respondents were not aware.
The report on the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele was fair as he was rated high by constituents in all the areas of findings but with a call for an improved engagement with the people.
Commenting on the program, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, His Royal Majesty Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaye, the immediate past Chairman of NUJ, Ekiti Council; comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela and Chairman Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN); Rev. Dr. Adeyinka Aribasoye and former Chairman of NUJ, hail both JDPI and NUJ for the report which they described fair enough adding that it would definitely send a correct signal to political office holders that they are accountable to the electorates they represent.
In a chat with TopNews shortly after event, the NUJ chairman; Ekiti Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi said it is the constitutional right of the two bodies to hold government at all levels accountable so as to ensure the dividends of democracy get to the people as stipulated in the constitution.
