By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Stakeholders in Ayamelum Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State, Thursday, vowed to mobilise action towards ensuring that winners of the State 28th September 2024 Council poll were credible and trustworthy to deliver dividends of democracy at the grassroots.
Speaking at a townhall meeting organised by the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi in partnership with Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, the people regretted that lack of basic amenities and total absence of government presence draw their development backward while impacting negatively on their agricultural produce.
The President General, Umuerum community, Hon. Alphonsus Obiekezie, while speaking at the occasion on behalf of other president generals, lamented that their roads were not motorable, aside challenges posed by lack of power supply and intimidation of his people by security agencies, among others.
He said, "We have no good road. Sometimes before I go to Awka, I'm required to come out with two dresses. There is no electricity and we don't have some other amenities despite being the largest producer of rice in the state. We have been pleading with the governor to help us construct that Awba-femmili to Umuerum bridge to have a way of transporting our products to other places."
On his part, Mrs Chinyere Okafor, from Omor town, urged the populace to shun vote buying and electoral malpractices by voting wisely for a credible Council Chairman and Counselors capable of addressing their needs as well as taken their plights to the governor where the need arises.
She said, "Time has come for us to itemize our problems and make it known when our leaders come on board. That way, we would also ensure that they work in accordance with our priority needs."
In a remark, the Director, JDPC Nnewi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ben Chima Okolo, explained that the JDPC was determined to improve grassroots governance through its My Local Government Project (MYLGA) Project which was geared towards sensitising the populace to hold the government accountable.
"We know that the state government is trying, but we are particularly interested in good governance. Our intention is to hear the people, sensitize and strengthen them on their roles as citizens in our democratic environment," he stated.
Contributing, the State Coordinator of MYLGA Project, Mr Onyekachi Ololo, added that the project was also aimed at advocating for the creation of an Office of the Citizens (OOTC) Help Desk across Local Government Areas in Nigeria with a view to sustain communication and relationship between the people and government.
"We call for the creation of an Office of the Citizens (OOTC) Help Desk with an Officer where citizens from Ayamelum LGA can readily report issues of insecurity, human rights violation, health and education abandoned or poorly executed local government projects in their communities, and other matters.
"The desk will also serve as an interface to share ideas and ask questions, create an environment where citizens and the local government authorities work for the collective benefit of the community," Ololo said.
Earlier, the representative of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Mr Usen Asanga, while explaining that the project was being implemented in six states of the federation, including Anambra State, hinted that it successful implementation would help to involve all in decision making, achieve accountability and good governance for the people.
"We want to bridge the relationship between the local government and the citizens to achieve accountability and good governance for the people.
"Apart from building their capacities, we want them to be able to articulate their needs and also show them the techniques of engaging the government. We cannot sit down and want good governance to be given to us. We have to demand it.
"The local government is the closest to the people. It is at the grassroots that people should be able to make their voices heard. Our target is to bring government and people together to move society forward," he said.