Residents of seven communities in Ido Local Government area of Oyo state have urged  Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  to create polling centres for the communities, claiming that thousands of people living in the area were denied registration and voting, during the 2011 elections in the state.
The newly elected Chairman of the association, Adeyemi Adetoye who spoke during the inauguration of members of new executive for Ifesowapo group of seven (G7) Community Development Association, Akuru, Ibadan, said in spite of the strategic location of the communities and its large population, it was sad to say that there is no single polling centre in the community.
“For the people to discharge their civic responsibility, government must make provision for needed infrastructure such as polling centres, hospitals, police station, good roads etc. But, it is really sad that all of these were not provided. INEC must provide polling centres so that the people can vote, many were disenfranchised during the last exercise . And we don’t want such to repeat itself. So, we are calling on the government to rise up to its duty to the citizens,” he said.
In his inaugural speech,  Adeyemi while commending the efforts of governor Abiola Ajimobi of the state for his urban renewal and transformation programme, noted that some residents had to trek for over five kilometres to get to the nearest polling centres in the last exercise before they could perform their civic duty.
He said these communities, which have been in existence for almost two decades, lacked government presence as it has no polling centres, no public schools, no health centre, Police station or tarred roads.
With a population of about 10, 000 people in the seven communities that make up the CDA, Adeyemi further noted that the community needed a model health centre for which it has acquired a land and which it was willing to donate to the government for the same  purpose .
According to him,  the community appreciated the transformational agenda of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi led administration and the commitments of the Ido Local Government Chairman, Olowofela and is willing to partner with them in the urban renewal policy but pleaded that the communities roads be constructed.
“Our roads from Yidi off Elebu Road, through Eleta-Dada Shopping Complex, Sanusi Street –Olusetan, the Circular road in Orire Estates, our roads from D Rovans off Elebu, through Olusetan Ajila, Asanpa Oluwo should be constructed to boost economic activities in these areas.”