2023: We’ll eat your rice, vote against you – C’River electorate warn politicians

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

As the countdown to next year’s general elections continues, some voters  in Cross River State have warned Politicians not to think they have earned their votes with some paltry kilogrames of rice.

They insisted that they will eat the rice and still vote against politicians because the rice does not substitute for good governance.

Some of the voters disclosed this in Calabar in a vox pop conducted in after the 2022 Christmas celebrations in the state.

During this year’s celebrations, a number of politicians distributed few bags of rice ranging from 2kg to 5 kg to some selected supporters.

Although a negligible number of possible voters  benefited from this donation, a public show was made of this  with the intention of possibly laundering the image of failed politicians who are seeking for votes.

Reacting to this, some residents took strong exception to this saying  the free rice distribution to some cronies will not sway their votes.

Etim Nyong, a middle aged voters in Ward 12 in Calabar South said he only saw pictures of free rice distribution and has not come across any one who received same.

He said, “Yes, I heard there will be Christmas rice distribution but I have not seen any location where they distributed rice.

“I fail to understand why people who mismanaged the economy and rendered millions of people poor will turn round to distribute rice, it’s an insult on people’s intelligence”, he said.

Also speaking, Kelvin Edet, a self employed registered voters in Ward Seven in Calabar South said he received five cups of rice from his politically exposed friend.

He however promised to eat the rice and still vote against people he feels contributed to the ravaging poverty in the land.

“I received five cups of rice and 2,000 naira from a political group I belong to, but I’ll not sell my conscience come 2023.

“We’ll eat the rice and still vote against people who over the years have made a mess of our country and state through bad governance”, he said.

On his part, Atim Mendie said it’s sad politicians are positing pictures of rice distribution in the state when everything that makes life worth living in the state and country has gone really down.

“What is the rice for, will it make up for the bad governance we are being fed with daily.

“Look at Cross River State today, are you journalists  yourself proud of the state.

“There is no water, sanitation is very poor, insecurity everywhere, our State used to be very clean and green but see where we are today.

“Just take a look at the pitiable state of our country today, can you honestly say you are proud of our State and country.

“So with this in mind, it amounts to a complete insult on the collective intelligence of our people when these politicians cover-up their failure with free bags of rice posted on social media to how their generosity”, she said.

Also speaking, Andinam Hanson, a trader in Calabar Municipality advised people to look beyond the Greek gift called rice.

He said the rice they are distributing may come from corrupt practices and not from legitimate means and advised people to reject such politicians.

Similarly, Chris Enin, a  resident in Calabar Municipality queried why people think a 3 or 4kg of rice will make up for bad governance in the state and country.

He said it’s high time people called the bluff of these people and take conscious steps to reverse the toxic trend in the state and country.