By Gilbert Ekezie
As the preparations for the conduct of 2023 elections in the country become more intensive, the Abia State Town Unions Association National youths wing has set agenda for politicians and the entire people of the State.
The agenda setting came after the general meeting of the group held recently at its National Headquarters, Okota Lagos .
In a resolution, issued by president of the group, Comrade Chima Joel Okorie , the Secretary , Mr Ndubuisi Onwuchekwa and Public Relations officer, Hon Sylvester Obasi the youths said Abia State is degenerated in every facet of economic, social and political development. “We found ourselves in an environment characterised by poor governance, which provided fertile grounds for inefficiency, ineffectiveness and corruption.
“Abia State can no longer measure up with other comity of states in Nigeria in every area of developmental indices. The future is now stagnated for us.”
The youths regretted that some leaders in the state refused to emulate their counterparts in other states in areas of human and infrastructure development. “We are not seeing development in other states being replicated in our dear state. In fact, Abia electorates are marooned to the bone marrow with every four years rhetorics of a better Abia. We do not want to hear about having a better Abia, we want to see it happen.”
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The youths therefore called on Abia elders, elites, politicians, electorates and all relevant stakeholders to do everything possible to ensure that a better Abia State project is achieved this time. “It is time to build our desired and better Abia State where progress and development can be seen and felt. As election draws closer, we the Abia State Town Unions Association Youth Wing comprising of the whole Town Unions in Abia State and diaspora, wish to set the following agenda for aspirants contesting executive and legislative positions in Abia State. That:- “Every aspirant must have it in mind that Abia State is tilting towards a failed state. Every aspirant should search their concience to be sure they are willing to serve and project Abia State in the right direction among the comity of states in Nigeria and the world at large, because we shall henceforth activate a platform to sensitize Abians on their right to recall any Politician who failed to fulfill their campaign promises.
“We shall be demanding quaterly account and performance appraisal of their stewardship.
“There will be a periodic legislative scorecard where lawmakers will showcase all their activities within the period under review. Those who want to pilot the affairs of Abia State government house , come 2023 and beyond should be ready to judiciously manage the commonwealth of the state and also be willing to tender periodic account of their stewardship.
“We also resolved that henceforth, ministries in Abia State should give us their blueprint on how they intend to generate funds to run their ministries. We encourage Abia electorates to shun peanut from politicians , but cast their votes wisely for credible and capable hands who have distinguished themselves in different field of endeavours.”
The Abia youths noted that as democratic representative principles stipulates that elected representatives of the people must be accountable to them, “We are pleading and believing that the media could play a powerful role in helping Abians to hold their elected representatives accountable with the emergence and expansion of social media which is modern day media without borders. We will partner with media houses to organise a public debate for all candidates before the general election, where they will present their manifestoes to the people.”
The youths also said they are open to consultations and ready to partner with any candidate with progressive mind , and who believes in good governance, which is the fulfilment of the basic expectations of the people, the ability and capacity of the government to deliver services, maintenance of law and order, development of civil society and respect of human rights. “We shall set events into motion that will ultimately redeem Abia from the current state of despondency. Good governance cannot be an abberation in our state, so we embraced it because it offers greater incentives and promotes education, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructural development, industrialazation, security, employement and generally improve the welfare and standard of living of the people.
“We therefore want to categorically state that the aims of this publication is to agitate our minds to interrogate basic assumptions and to provoke us to engage in more robust debates on the future direction of democracy, good governance and leadership in Abia State.”