A Group, Campaign for Transformative Governance (CTGF) on Saturday engaged candidates representing various political parties in the forthcoming 2023 Senatorial Elections in Lagos in a dialogue.
CTGF Chairman, Mr Sina Odugbemi, while speaking on theme of the dialogue titled: The 2023 General Elections and The Quest for People-Centered Public Service-Focused Governance – Any Hope? said the ongoing electioneering was everybody’s business.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CTGF is an initiative of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technology And Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
The Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON) and Pro-Labour Civil Society Organisations are also part of the initiative.
NAN reports that candidates of the political parties present at the dialogue included: the Action Alliance (AA), Africa Democratic Party (ADC), Labour Party, Young New Party and others.
Odugbemi stated that political context of late was devoid of content and as such unhealthy for democracy, hence the need for the forum to midwife discussion between the aspirants and the masses.
He explained that the discussion would lay a foundation of what the masses expected from their representatives when voted into power and a benchmark for the performance of the elected candidates.
The CTGF chairman stated that Nigerians must not be tired of politicking if they truly desired transformative change and progress in the country.
He noted that tactically, votes would count in the upcoming elections but it was the consciousness of the voters that would lead them to the polls during the election to make it count.
“A country currently experiencing inequality, corruption, hunger and insecurity like ours, is prone to violent reaction and that is why we organised this forum to mitigate any violent reaction that could arise.
“This is for the political parties’ candidates to be informed that they would be held accountable, and for voters to be sensitised that while they have the power to vote, they also have the power to recall any political representative that is not performing.
“The present state of Nigeria is redeemable and we all must be serious to ensure that things change positively,” he said.
According to him, the group will monitor every stage of the electioneering, from the build up, through voting and post election.
In his remark, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lagos State Council, Mr Gbenga Ekundayo, said those vying for political offices in Lagos State must understand the challenges, resources at hand and opportunities available to maximise to improve things.
Ekundayo, also Secretary of CTGF, stated that the initiative was borne of of the need for trade union members to be involved in electioneering to make informed decisions on who they should vote for that would lead to progress in the state and country.
He explained that the dialogue was organised to enable members assess the various political candidates’ level of accessibility and capability that would lead to a future beneficial to all.
The TUC chairman urged Nigerians to use the provision of the constitution to recall any political office holders who failed to deliver on their promises or push ideas and agenda that could impact lives positively.
“We sent invitations to candidates of all the political parties in Lagos State but only a few showed up.
“This shows that some of the political parties feel that they are familiar with the system and know the mechanism to deploy to win the election, and so such fora do not count for them.
“For us, this is a step in the right direction to ensure that the promises made by the political parties’ candidates here are kept and held accountable, and to also beam a search light on those candidates that are not here and may be voted into power,” he said.
Chairperson, AUPCTRE Federal Organ, Lagos, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sokumbi said Nigeria was a project that must succeed and all hands must be on deck to reposition the country.
Sokumbi explained that politicians must present their manifestos to the electorate for them to know their programmes and not just campaign to seek the votes of the masses.
“In the past, one could recite the manifestos of political parties by heart, but all we hear now is ‘vote for me’ and not what they intend to offer.
“We need to know the plans of the political parties and the electorate must also know that they have the power to facilitate the recall of a political office holder that underperforms, the same way they have the power to vote.
“Ignorance is no longer an excuse. Candidates vying for political offices must tell us what they intend to do better than those they are complaining about and how posterity will have something good to say about them,” she said.
According to her, the present state of the economy has made Nigerians more politically conscious and ready to put in their best to make the country great again.
In his address, Hon. Oluwabori Awofodun, representing Somolu Constituency 1 for Action Alliance party, urged Lagos residents to vote for competence and do a solid backgroud check on political parties’ candidates before voting them into power.
NAN reports that the candidates agreed that youth empowerment and unity were germane to the progress of the state.
They also agreed that healthcare must be prioritised, with a state of emergency declared on electricity to enable a modern economy.
It was also suggested that political representatives in the state must improve sanitation, water transportation to decongest traffic on the roads, among others. (NAN)
