More than 70 percent of farmers in Edo South Senatorial district have abandoned their farms because of fear of bandits, Senator Neda Imasuen has said.
The lawmaker who represents the zone at the 10th senate bemoaned that most of his constituents domicile in the rural areas cannot farm, saying the scenario has impacted negatively on the people.
“My telephone is full of demands by my constituents whose economic activity (farming) has been hampered, as a result of banditry.
“Most of my constituents are in the rural areas, and they are farmers. Today many of them, I mean over 70% of them can no longer go to the farm because of fear of banditry” Imasuen said.
Senator Imasuen made this known on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.
According to him, the impact he has made on his constituents in his one year at the senate is not yet satisfactory, saying the needs of the people are enormous.
“There is no adequate healthcare, the schools are all breaking down, we don’t have enough teachers, and when we do have them, they are not even qualified to teach. Our roads are nothing to write home about.
“So am I satisfied? No! But we are hoping that with legislation, and by the grace of God, the tide will turn around”.
Commenting on the politics of Edo state, particularly, the forthcoming gubernatorial election, Imasuen, who is also is a member of Labour Party (LP) and the chairman of Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition expressed optimism that his party may win the polls.
“It will not be a surprise if LP wins the Edo State governorship elections because if you feel the pulse of the people today and you ask if they were better off 15 years ago than they are now, the resounding answer is that they are not better off” Imasuen added.
