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Why Kwarans Shunned "Democracy Day" Celebration

Saharareporters can authoritatively reveal that widespread anger and disappointment in the administration of Kwara State led a majority of the residents to boycott activities lined up for the May 29 Democracy Day marking the return of Nigeria to civilian democratic governance in 1999.

The boycott, which appeared to be spontaneous and orchestrated, had been evident about a week before the D-day as the residents openly expressed disgust on how the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s seven-year administration had failed to bring succor to workers in the government employ.

Saharareporters also gathered that many of the workers in the state’s civil service and local councils are owed salary arrears ranging from four to six months, safe for the pensioners whose arrears were cleared recently, despite the state being beneficiary of the Federal Government’s two bailout fund installments in recent months which the FG instructed should be used to offset owed wages.

The expansive Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, the state capital, was completely deserted on Monday, despite the government’s earlier announcement of the scheduled activities at the venue.

Some of the residents who spoke to Saharareporters contended that the situation in the state called for sober reflection rather than celebrations.

“As a matter of fact the ordinary people have not enjoyed the dividend of democracy since 1999 and the story has been a massive failure in governance,” a civil servant, Olatunji Salau, said.

“I am not surprised at the boycott. In fact, I supported it actively. Only happy people can celebrate and a majority of the workers in this state are sad,” another civil servant, Abdullahi Arikewusola, said.

A Higher National Diploma student of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Rotimi Adebayo, said he had consciously mobilized his mates to stay off the Square in protest against what he described as a persistent ugly situation in the state.

“Things have never been this bad and I think there is no better time to express our feelings than now because we just have to let the government know that it has not measured up to even its own standards,” Adebayo added.

Interestingly, the Kwara State government has also received cold response from the residents on its efforts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the state’s creation in May 1967 after many residents insisted that there is nothing to celebrate.

Some government official the government had opted for a subdued event in view of the prevailing recession, saying: “Everything that has to be highlighted on achievements of Kwara State in the past 50 years will still be highlighted in due course.” they claimed.

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Politics