2007年VOA标准英语-Many Nigerians Apathetic Over State Polls

By Sarah Simpson
Lagos
14 April 2007

Nigerians voted for new state governors and legislators Saturday, but in a poor suburb of the commercial capital, Lagos, many people were doubtful that the election could bring any improvement to their lives. Sarah Simpson reports for VOA from Lagos.

 
Young men and boys set up rudimentary goal posts for a game of soccer in the streets, making of a voting day car ban
On the normally traffic-choked streets of Ebute Metta, an old and poor quarter of Lagos, young men and boys are playing football - making the most of a ban on travel during the voting period.

Some, like Sunday Jonah, said they would not be interrupting their game to vote. Jonah says it is a waste of time.

"It has all been the same thing all the while, the same promises, the same thing every year, every section of the election," said Jonah. "So, I see no reason why I am voting. The same promises, the same everything. We are tired of the promises, all we want is action. We do not want promises anymore."

Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer. Despite the billions of dollars of crude exported each year, the majority of the population lives in poverty, according to the United Nations.

 
An old man and woman line up to vote in state governor elections in Lagos
Tunji Akande says that, after weeks of power cuts and water shortages in Ebute Metta, most residents are more concerned with finding a bucket of water to wash and cook, than going out to vote.

"A lot of people are not going to come out to vote today, because, for about two or three weeks now, there has not been lights, no water," said Akande. "If you go around, you see people looking for water, some people have been up since maybe 2 am or 3 am looking for water. So because of that, there will be a lot of disruptions. People have not taken their baths, they do not have water to cook, they need water they need electricity. They are not happy."

Akande is not going to vote either. He says he believes Nigerians cannot change anything through the ballot¹ box, that the result is already decided².

"All this you are seeing is just ceremony," said Akande. "I do not believe people's vote counts at all. It does not count. I do not believe that."

 
A man casts his ballot in Ebute Metta, a poor suburb of Nigeria's sprawling³ commercial capital, Lagos
Nigeria's previous polls in 2003, were marred⁴ by allegations of rigging and voter intimidation⁵.

Foreign and national observers were monitoring Saturday's polls. However, the European Union has not sent any of its team members to Nigeria's restive⁶ southern Delta⁷ region and oil producing center because of security fears.

Seven policemen were killed when gunmen stormed two police stations in Port Harcourt, the capital of the oil producing southern region.

In Lagos Saturday, other than widespread logistical hitches⁸ and delays, voting passed without incident.

Kemi Ogunbona was one of the first people to vote in her polling station in Ebute Metta, her thumbnail marked with ink to show she had cast her ballot.

But even she was guarded about the prospects⁹ for any improvements to life in Ebute Metta.

"If we get to choose the right person, it takes Lagos farther. It makes life easier for everyone - transportation, power supply, the water system. Things will work better provided we pick the right person," she said.

"Well, we are hoping it gets better, replied when asked "And do you have faith in the system that that will happen?"

"Democracy is just starting in Nigeria, and we believe that, in time, it gets better, and hope that we will see an improvement on the last government," added Metta.

Saturday's governor and state legislator elections are just the first in a series of crucial polls. Next Saturday, the country will be voting again, and that time, it will be for a new president. Should voting pass off smoothly¹⁰, it will mark the first transfer of power from one elected head of state to another since gaining independence from Britain in 1960.

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

4 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

5 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

6 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。

7 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

8 hitches   

暂时的困难或问题( hitch的名词复数 )； 意外障碍； 急拉； 绳套

参考例句：

• He hitches a lift with a long - distance truck. 他搭上了一辆长途卡车。
• One shoulder hitches upward in a shrug. 她肩膀绷紧，然后耸了耸。

9 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

10 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。