|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Akanji Olowolodu, Bauchi
Nigerian citizens have be challenged to demand for transparency and accountability from political office holders in order to ensure accountability and responsive governance.
This was contained in a Communique issued at the end of a 3- day annual 2023
stakeholders workshop for Centre for Community Actions for Peace and Development (CCAPAD) Local Peace Team on Active Citizens /Group participation in Civic Responsibilities
for Peaceful 2023 Elections in Nigeria, and awareness embarked upon at Muda Lawal market , Bauchi Town and Miya community in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State.
According to CCAPAD in the communique jointly signed by Mal. Sani Yakubu, Coordinator and Dauda Salisu, Secretary, electing individuals in any political office should be based on merit while continuous sensitization using NGOs, religious and government institutions on the need of fair elections should be encouraged.
It also recommended that Vote buying and thuggery must be checked and sanctioned while Freedom of expressions should be respected by all the political actors.
The 3-day workshop was organized in
partnership with Bread for The World Germany, on active citizens’/group participation in civic responsibilities
for peaceful 2023 elections in Nigeria, from 20th – 22nd February, 2023 at
Development Exchange Centre Bauchi.
The workshop was attended by
participants drawn from CCAPAD local peace team Bauchi Central 1& 2,
Ganjuwa Local peace team and CCAPAD staff Jos during which rigorous practical trainings on Democracy, Good Governance, Election Monitoring and Observation among other key deliverables were digested and participants had fairly good understandings on their approaches and utilities.
At the end of the workshop, participants expressed satisfaction with the, quality of the programme and resolve to Organize sensitization on the need for peaceful conduct of 2023 general elections in Nigeria and actively work together with relevant stakeholders across Bauchi
State to educate citizens to exercise their franchise and elect the candidate of their choice in any of the political parties.
They also resolved to Encourage and educate Nigerians to know and defend their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian
Constitution (1999) as amended and Build collaboration and deepen the relationship between the various religious Organizations in the State for the propagation of harmonious relationship in the State.
Also to Advocate strongly for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria by INEC and respect for the rule of law by the politicians and citizens as well as Prevail on the youths not be used by the politicians as their thugs for political thuggery and violence during elections.
To also advocate for politicians to fulfil their campaign promises by signing agreements in our communities and equip the citizenry with peaceful options of holding them accountable on their campaign promises.
The communique made available to Journalists in Bauchi also contained that, CCAPAD Local Peace Team Bauchi Central 1&2, and Ganjuwa local
peace teams, in line with the knowledge acquired and the set goals, had
embarked on a stakeholder’s awareness on peaceful conduct of 2023
general elections.
The awareness took place in Muda Lawal Market Bauchi, on Tuesday 7th March, 2023, and Miya community of Ganjuwa
Local government, Bauchi State on Wednesday 8th March, 2023.
Part of the observations were the feedbacks generated during interactive sessions to include; Lack of political will and poor leadership on the part of government which is a major setback in the development of democracy in Nigeria.
Also, absent of effective institutionalized structures of government that monitors and enforce the rule of law in Nigeria is adversely affecting the participation of the ordinary citizens in the polity as well as Illiteracy and poverty of the citizens play a vital role in electing incompetent leaders during elections.
There is also negligence and ignorance of community leaders on educating their subjects on the need to consider the community rather than personal gain and divisions caused by the misused of religion i.e.,religious and tribal politics often guaranty the emergence of incompetent leaders.
