OUTRAGE IN PATANI: Lawmakers Hold Session On Plastic Chairs And Tables As Residents Ask, “Where Are The Council Funds?”
By Passman Akpos
Patani, Delta State — Concerns and criticisms have emerged among residents and social media users following the circulation of photographs purportedly showing a legislative sitting within the Patani Local Government Council Area, where officials were seen seated on plastic chairs and using plastic tables during proceedings.
Particularly attracting attention was the sight of the council mace — a symbol of legislative authority — reportedly placed on a plastic table, a development that has sparked debate about the state of facilities within the local government council.
Several residents questioned whether the arrangement accurately reflects the condition of the council’s legislative chamber and administrative infrastructure. Some expressed surprise that elected officials could be conducting official business in what they described as a makeshift setting, while others called for clarification from the council leadership.
Critics argued that local governments receive statutory allocations intended for governance, infrastructure, and service delivery, raising questions about why a legislative arm of government would appear to operate under such conditions.
One resident, reacting to the images, remarked that even customary courts in decades past had more structured facilities, describing the scene as “shocking” and difficult to reconcile with the expectations of modern local governance.
The photographs have since generated discussions across community platforms, with many calling on the Patani Local Government Council to explain the circumstances surrounding the meeting and the state of its facilities.
Some observers, however, urged caution, noting that the images may not tell the full story and that the gathering could have been a temporary or special meeting held outside the council’s regular legislative chamber.
As public reactions continue to grow, residents are demanding greater transparency regarding the condition of public institutions, utilization of council resources, and efforts being made to improve governance infrastructure in Patani Local Government Area.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from the Patani Local Government Council addressing the concerns raised by members of the public.
