OsunDecides: Nonagenarians arrive polling unit early; hope for better Nigeria

Many elderly people, among which were Adekunle Benjamin, 95 and Shabina Oladipo, 90, were among voters who arrived at their polling units in Oogi Town, Ayedaade Local Government Area, as early as 7:00 a.m. for today’s governorship election in Osun.
Mr Benjamin, voting at Unit 7, Ward 8 in Oogi, said that he came out early to vote because of his faith in a better Nigeria.
According to him, “I came out as early as 7 a.m. to cast my vote for my preferred candidate.”
Mr Benjamin, who claimed to be voting since 1952, said that he also came out to vote for a better economy.
“I am 95 years of age and I have been voting since 1952. I still have faith in this country.
“I am here to exercise my civic responsibility and to vote for my candidate for better dividend of democracy,” he said.
Mr Benjamin, however, appealed to candidates in the election not to see the election as a do-or-die affair.
“Politics is a game and not a fight. No matter what the outcome of the election might be, the winner and the loser should see themselves as one,” he said.
Mr Benjamin commended INEC for the timely arrival of their officials at the polling unit.
While waiting for her accreditation at the same polling unit, Mrs Oladipoaid said she came out early to vote because of her desire for peace and development of the state.
She said she believed that her preferred candidate would fulfil his campaign promises.
Mrs Oladipo, who claimed to be 90 years of age, appealed to the electorate to come out and vote.
In her remarks, Asogwa Ngozika, the Presiding Officer of the polling units, said they arrived at the polling unit at 6:30 a.m.
Ms Ngozika said the electorate were also orderly.
Accreditation of voters and voting commenced smoothly at 8:35 a.m.
(NAN)
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