30th September, 2010
The One Man, One Vote demanded by the people must be realised in 2011 elections to enhance the country’s democracy.
This assertion was made by the Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria, Mr. Oladele Adekanye, during the distribution of free exercise books to pupils of public primary schools in the council area.
Adekanye stated that votes of the electorate must determine the result of elections, so that leadership could be accountable to the people.
He noted that the annulled 1993 election was adjudged the most credible, free and fair election the country had held so far, simply because the result of that election was determined by the votes cast by the people.
The council chief also commended the visionary leadership traits of the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who noted that the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was not realistic.
He said when Tinubu criticised the timetable then, it was perceived as normal opposition criticism, but people now realised that what he said was the reality as INEC itself now called for time extension.
The council boss also warned that the 29 May hand over date must not be shifted.
On the distribution of exercise books, Adekanye said that the council’s huge spending on education was his desire to ensure that many people are educated in the locality as well as increase their quality of life.
He explained that the distribution of the free books was his humble contribution to the advancement of education standard of the people in Lagos Mainland Local Government.
According to him, each of the pupils in the 26 public schools in the area would collect 12 exercise books.
He added that the programme is also aimed at alleviating the plight of parents and guardians of the pupils as well as to complement the laudable programme of free distribution of text books by Governor Babatunde Fashola.