Grassroots Must Feel the Impact of Governance, Fatola Chides Elected Representatives Over Misplaced Priorities

By Seyifunmi Odunuga 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ibadan South-West/Ibadan North-West Federal Constituency in the forthcoming general elections, Hon. Samson Opeyemi Fatola, has criticised elected representatives across the country over what he described as misplaced priorities, insisting that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for people at the grassroots. Fatola who emerged as a PDP candidate in the recently conducted primaries for the constituency ahead of the next general elections. 

Fatola made the remarks while featuring on Gbagede Oro, the flagship political programme on Honor 103.5 FM, anchored by Sekinat Adegoke Yusuph.

During the programme, he lamented that many Nigerians have developed the habit of placing all the blame for the nation's challenges on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while paying little attention to the roles and responsibilities of governors, members of the House of Representatives, state lawmakers and local government chairmen.

According to him, elected officials at all levels of government are beneficiaries of increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and must be held accountable for how such resources are deployed for public good.

“Representation should have positive effects on people at the grassroots. Nigerians are quick to forget their pains and only blame the President, while governors, members of the House of Representatives, members of the House of Assembly and local government chairmen are left without proper scrutiny, despite the increased resources available to them,” he said.

Fatola, however, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the initiative as a laudable intervention capable of expanding access to higher education for thousands of young Nigerians.

He further criticised what he termed the growing culture of reducing legislative responsibilities to the distribution of consumables and token empowerment items.

According to him, lawmakers should focus on sponsoring impactful bills and initiating motions that directly address the economic hardship confronting citizens.

“Lawmaking should not be limited to sharing goats and other petty items as empowerment. Elected representatives should concentrate on moving motions and sponsoring legislation that will ease the suffering of the people and improve their quality of life,” he stated.

Fatola also blamed voter apathy for weakening democratic accountability in Nigeria, arguing that low voter turnout has allowed a very small percentage of the population to determine the country's political future.

“The Nigerian electorate is also part of the problem because many people fail to come out on election day, leaving barely five per cent of the population to decide the fate of everyone else,” he added.

He subsequently called on citizens to become more actively involved in the electoral process and demand accountability from every elected office holder, irrespective of political affiliation.