Residents of Ifo/ Ewekoro Federal Constituency have been urged to uphold true democracy by going beyond casting of votes, but holding political office holders accountable.
The admonition was made by Antonia Onda, Senior Program Officer at Yiaga Africa, during a sensitization program and meeting held to promote deliberate democracy on Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Onda asserted that it was crucial that citizens participate and voice their concerns in order to achieve true democracy.
She stated that the People’s Assembly will provide residents of Ifo/ Ewekoro Federal Constituency the opportunity to come together, deliberate on issues that affects them and voice their concerns to their representative at the legislative arm of government.
Her words, “Citizens’ participation is at the center of democracy and it is important that citizens engage and so we are providing this opportunity and platform for citizens to voice their concerns. For us, it is to bring together citizens at the constituency levels to come and deliberate on issues that matter to them and table them with the Federal constituency for implementation.
“Most times citizens don’t participate beyond voting on election days and participation goes beyond just election, it also includes holding representatives accountable for the offices they are holding and demanding project implementation within communities that affect their lives.”
In his remarks, the lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro at the National Assembly, Ibrahim Isiaka, noted that the program was brought to educate various groups on their right and the responsibilities of their representatives whether at the national or state assembly.
The Deputy Chief Whip, who was represented by Biodun Adeleye, argued that the constituency was singled out because of the effectiveness of its representative in the national assembly.
He stated that whatever is being discussed would only be an upgrade to what they have been doing in the past and pledged to support any changes that are proposed.
Also speaking, Sheikh Lawal Adebayo, Chairman League of Imam and Alfa, Ewekoro local government, lamented that
in recent times, citizens no longer feel the impact of democracy and getting across to political leaders, especially those in the federal constituencies, has become difficult.
He, however, expressed hope and prayed that the suggestions made by participants would be implemented, saying “we hope to have the positive impact and changes in our state because so far, all we experience are negative impacts.”
Speaking on the sideline of the event, one of the participants, a physically challenged man, Wasiu Olamilekan, described the people’s assembly as a great privilege for Persons Living With Disabilities since their voices would be heard
“I see it as a great privilege for the PWDs in Ogun state, it’s an opportunity where our voice can be heard. We’ve been looking for this kind of opportunity, we have written so many letters to the Ogun state governor, we’ve not been carried along and at the end of the day we are neglected.”
DAILY POST reports that the meeting had in attendance market women, student representatives, religious leaders, a representative from the NURTW, youth coordinators, the Olu of Itori represented by high chief Wale Bankole, zonal CDCs, female artisans and representatives of Persons Living With Disabilities, among others.
