IMO Political Arena (IPA), a political pressure group has advocated the participation of citizens in decision making through active engagement and dialogue with elected officials.
Convener of the group, Justice Jolly Amaechi, made the call during the Imo Victory Symposium 2019, organised as part of activities to mark the May 29 handover ceremony in Owerri on Monday.
Amechi, an US based lawyer, who was represented by Prof. Chima Korie, History professor, urged the electorate to work closely with elected officials at all times to ensure healthy synergy.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Citizens Participation in Governance’, Amaechi blamed the misappropriation of public funds on what he described as ‘lack of engagement and post-election dialogue between elected officials and the citizenry’.
According to him, government officials should be held accountable for their actions and electoral promises should be backed up with action.
“In IPA, we are advocating for more citizens participation in governance through active civic engagements and dialogue.
“Governance must stop being an affair of government officials alone; we all have roles to play so as to salvage our democracy.
“We also recommend the practice of recall elections as practiced in certain climes, whereby voters can remove an underperforming elected official from office through a direct vote before the official’s tenure ends,” Amaechi said.
In his remarks, Prof. Emmanuel Inyama, the Local Planning Committee Chairman for the event, said that more dividends of democracy would get to the grassroots through active citizens participation.
“Now that we have 36 states, the assumption is that government has gotten closer to the masses and dividends of democracy should be spread out.
“But sometimes, the electorate is responsible for their own problems because there is a large communication gap between them and their elected officials. This gap has to be bridged,” he opined.
Mr Uche Onyeagocha, former member of the Federal House of Representatives, who spoke on behalf of Imo Governor elect, Mr Emeka Ihedioha praised the group for its contributions toward effective governance.
He assured Imo residents of the incoming administration’s readiness to run an all inclusive government and listen to the recommendations of the people.

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– 28 May, 2019 @ 08:00 GMT |