Bank customers make panic withdrawals in Ondo State

Less than 24hrs to the governorship election in Ondo State, commercial activities in Akure, the state capital, and major towns across the state, intensified as people made a last-minute rush to stock their homes with household needs.

Checks by our correspondent on some hotels in Akure, Ondo, Owo, and Okitipupa showed an increase in bookings by lodgers.

The investigation showed that a cross-section of the lodgers included security operatives, independent election monitors, Independent National Electoral Commission employees, journalists, among other groups of lodgers.

Some popular hotels in Akure, which included Flourish Hotel and Suites, Bliss World Hotels and Suites, RafTeju Hotel and Ade Super Hotel, witnessed increase in patronage.

Meanwhile, banks within the three senatorial districts of Ondo witnessed increased activities with customers thronging their halls to make last-minute transactions.

Findings showed that some of the banks witnessed massive cash withdrawals from politicians, even as some banks informed their customers that they would close at 3 pm on Friday.

The tempo of buying and selling in popular markets across the state with people visiting markets to stock household needs such as food, drinks, kerosene and petrol.

Most filling stations in Akure were closed; along the Oyemekun-Ilesa Garage road, a few that had fuel sold above the N97 official pump price.