Group chides Ebonyi govt’s policies, lull in C’river on democracy day
Governor Udom cautions politicians against heating up the polity
AKWA Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, has charged the people of the state not to allow political differences divide them but should know that before politics, they lived together as brothers and sisters.
He, therefore, appealed to the political class to guide against utterances capable of heating up the polity, thereby leading to disunity among the people of the state and beyond.
He made the plea during a broadcast to mark his third year in office and 19th anniversary of democracy in the country.
Udom, however, reassured the people of the state of his commitment and determination to make good his promises when he assumed office in 2015,
He stressed that he has not derailed from his five-point agenda and would continue to impact the people’s lives, as such was government’s sole responsibility.
In a related development, the Ebonyi Advocacy for Transparency Initiative (EATI) has accused the state government of massive corruption and negligence to the welfare of workers.
The group, in a media briefing to mark this year’s democracy day, challenged Governor David Umahi to a public debate on his administration’s policies and programmes.
In a statement by its Coordinator, Jude Okpor, the group said the government violated the laws of Nigeria by its amendment of the State’s Direct Labour law, which empowered it to execute projects worth more than N1.5 billion.
Meanwhile, this year’s democracy day celebration in Cross River was marred by poor turnout.
EMINENT Nigerians have attributed the prevalent problems against the nation’s unity to the 1914 amalgamation, lamenting that the former British Governor General, Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard, fused different ethnic nationalities into one country.
They argued that for the country to move forward, it has to be restructured along economic and political lines to the extent that the different groups would have a sense of belonging in an equitable country.
A former House of Representatives member, Wale Okediran, said this yesterday in Akure at the 2018 Democracy Day Celebration with the theme: Nigerian
Okediran, who was guest lecturer and past President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), noted that the three major ethnic groups in the country were forcefully merged into one without putting their differences into consideration.
He said: “The British brought these groups together for administrative convenience not minding their absolute differences in culture, principles, allegiances, religion and politics.
“Today, Nigeria’s political problems as argued by Major Ademoyega (1981:3) sprang from the carefree manner in which the British took over, administered, milked and abandoned the government and people of Nigeria.”
He stressed that NGOS, Civil Society Organisations (CSOS) and traditional rulers have critical roles to play in the nation’s democracy and unity, saying the latter were unifying and symbolic to their people.
At the event, chaired by Olorunnibe Mamora, he, said: “Justice, fairness and equity would engender the people’s trust in the system and minimise the ethnic antagonisms that have tended to undermine reconciliation in Nigeria.
Speaking, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said the Democracy Day celebration afforded Nigerians the opportunity to access their journey from pre-independence, post-independence and the fourth Republic, the new era of democracy.