As campaigns begin towards the forthcoming 2023 general elections, the Executive Director of Africa’s foremost housing advocacy group, Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Barrister Festus Adebayo has called on all aspirants especially those for the presidential and state governorship elections to properly outline their plans towards addressing the housing issues in the country.
Mr Festus who was speaking on a radio programme, Power Corridor with Gbola Oba noted that the time when candidates made vague and bogus promises is passed and that electorates must not only demand that the candidates layout their plans for the housing sector, but give full details of how these plans will be achieved.
While drawing example of the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deliver its promise of delivering one million housing units annually, the HDAN director said that, “Electorates this time around should ask the candidates; what are the concrete plans to address the current housing deficit?
“What does the candidate aim to do differently than other administrations since the old method is obviously not working? How will the candidate address the general economic mishaps such as inflation, interest rate, forex crisis, effect of which are very much felt in the housing sector?”
Mr Festus also said called on experts in the built industry to participate actively in this election period by engaging the candidates, proffering solutions to the housing challenges to the candidates and even sensitizing the electorates on how to vote wisely.
His words, “The time for citizens to sit on the fence and express political apathy is past. If we need real change, stakeholders in the housing sectors must directly be involved in the electioneering process.
“Citizens must be sensitized to bring their demands directly or through representatives to the candidates and engage them in discussions as they campaign for votes.
“Citizens should also be sensitized to follow issue-based conversations and not sentimental ones such as those that appeal to religion, tribe, and or religion.”
