Indigenes of Patigi Local Government Area, Kwara North in Kwara State have slammed both the Federal and state governments, especially their representatives at the National Assembly, over the dilapidation and non-availability of social amenities in the area.

The indigenes' anger was to heighten when a non-government organisation, NGO, Patigi Development Association, PDA, revealed that the number of unemployed youths within the senatorial district has hit an alarming 70 percent mark, an indication that the educational system in the area is below standard.

The association also highlighted other challenges facing the community to include deplorable roads, non-availability of potable water as well as lack of modern markets in the area.

The President of the association, Babah Shaaba Umar told Vanguard Metro, VM, that the problems facing the community can be attributed to the  failure of representatives of Kwara North constituency to discharge their constitutional duties.

"We have since discovered that government's neglect of our local government is traceable to  those who are representing us in the National Assembly because they have failed to highlight our needs and aspirations in the Assembly.   We elected them to represent our interests and not their selfish interests. But since   being elected into office last year, they have not initiated any tangible project that would affect the life of the people who elected them.

They have not worked in line with what the constitution asked them to do or fulfilled the promises they made to us before the election. The mandate we gave to our Senators and representatives is for them make the agitation of our people known in the house. But that has not been the case as they have neglected us," he lamented.

"We are facing a lot of problems in Patigi Local Government Area. We have over 70 percent non-employable graduates in the area. Even the primary and secondary schools in our areas are deemed to be substandard because they are in a deplorable state. Our roads are also not motorable.

So, how could commercial activities take place when we don't have modern markets in the community as well. Talking of banking, we only have one bank which is not functioning well. We need all these facilities and others for development to take place in our area. We are still under-developed," the community noted in a statement.

They noted also that the request for social amenities is their right while provision of same is the constitutional duty of the representatives in the National Assembly to perform.

"All the social amenities we are demanding for are our rights. We have given them our mandate by performing our civic rights during the election last year.  So, it is their turn now to perform their constitutional responsibility by providing us our needs. We are calling on the Federal and Kwara state governments and Senators representing Kwara North constituency to come to our rescue," they further said.

The youth of  Patigi local government need work, we need good motorable roads, modern markets, drinkable bore-hole water and banks with other amenities in the area."

The youths, however, noted that developments so far recorded in the community were achieved by the contributions of the Patigi Development Association with the effort of the Royal Majesty, Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar and his cabinet.

"The development we are having in Patigi local government area  was made possible by the contribution of the association with the effortless support of our king, HRM Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar (OON), our grand patron, Patron Alhaji Mohammed Ndakogi (Wambai Patigi) and Matron Hajia Zainab Idris Umar. If not because of their support, the community. would have been in total  deplorable condition. So, the government should contribute their quota as part of their constitutional duty for our rescue."