Blame Politicians for Increasing Poverty - ATJ

from All Africa

Leadership (Abuja)

By Michael Oche

The Association for Truth and Justice (ATJ), has condemned the actions of some state governor for lavishing monies on the purchase of Okadas and Tokumbo cars for their civil servants and youths rather than using such funds for the provision of social infrastructures and boosting of agriculture. The association noted that this is the cause of increasing poverty in the country.

The chairman of the association, Alhaji M. M. Abdu, queried the idea of giving out huge sums of money as loans when social amenities such as adequate supply of infrastructure and health care services are lacking.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP Sunday, Alhaji Abdu observed that people will be more comfortable to ride their okadas and cars when their stomach is full. He therefore strongly advised that the state governors should as a matter of urgency, embark on people oriented projects such as provision of good roads, potable water, quality education and good health care services.

He lamented the deplorable state of things in the rural areas which he said has led to more people migrating to the cities in search of jobs and social amenities.

According to him, Abuja is getting conjested and the infrastructures are no longer capable of meeting the demands of the surging crowd.

"The standard of living in terms of accommodation, water services are better guaranteed in the villages than Abuja," he said.

The ATJ chairman then advised both the state and the federal governments to embark on a massive infrastructure development of the country.

Commenting on the politics of the nation, Alhaji Abdu said everything seem to have become lifeless. He said prior to the 2007 elections, everywhere was agog with the noise of the fifty political parties.

He blamed this on the dominance of the Peoples Demcoratic Party (PDP) in all the elections. He said, "Now that everybody is in PDP, no other political forum is left for politicking."