CCAPAD urges citizens to demand for accountability, transparency from Politicians
Samuel Luka, Bauchi
Community Actions for Peace and Development (CCAPAD) has challenged the Nigerian Citizens to demand for transparency and accountability from political office holders in order to guarantee responsive and good governance.
The call is contained in a Communique issued at the end of a three- day annual 2023
stakeholders workshop for the CCAPAD.
CCAPAD is a Local Peace Team on Active Citizens /Group participation in Civic Responsibilities
for Peaceful 2023 Elections in Nigeria.
The awareness was embarked upon at Muda Lawal market, Bauchi Town and Miya community in Ganjuwa LGA of Bauchi State.
The communique which was jointly signed by Mal. Sani Yakubu,
Coordinator and Dauda Salisu, Secretary observed that electing individuals in any political office should be based on merit while continuous sensitization using NGOs, Religious and government institutions on the need of fair elections should be encouraged.
It also recommended that Vote buying and thuggery must be checked and sanctioned while freedom of expressions should be respected by all the political actors.
The 3-day workshop was organized in
partnership with Bread for The World Germany, on active citizens’/group participation in civic responsibilities
for peaceful 2023 elections in Nigeria, from 20th – 22nd February, 2023 at
Development Exchange Centre Bauchi.
The workshop was attended by participants drawn from CCAPAD local peace team Bauchi Central 1& 2, Ganjuwa Local peace team and CCAPAD staff Jos during which rigorous practical trainings on Democracy, Good Governance, Election Monitoring and Observation among other key deliverables were digested and participants had fairly good understandings on their approaches and utilization.
At the end of the workshop, participants expressed satisfaction with the, quality of the programme and resolve to Organize sensitization on the need for peaceful conduct of 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
They also agreed to actively work together with relevant stakeholders across Bauchi State to educate citizens to exercise their franchise and elect the candidate of their choice in any of the political parties.
They also resolved to Encourage and educate Nigerians to know and defend their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and Build collaboration and deepen the relationship between the various religious Organizations in the State for the propagation of harmonious relationship in the State.
The programme was also aimed advocating strongly for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria by INEC and respect for the rule of law by the politicians and citizens as well as Prevail on the youths not be used by the politicians as their thugs for political thuggery and violence during elections.
It is also meant to advocate for politicians to fulfil their campaign promises by signing agreements in communities and equip the citizenry with peaceful options of holding them accountable on their campaign promises.
The communique made available to Journalists in Bauchi also contained that, CCAPAD Local Peace Team Bauchi Central 1&2, and Ganjuwa local
peace teams, in line with the knowledge acquired and the set goals, had
embarked on a stakeholder’s awareness on peaceful conduct of 2023
general elections.
Part of the observations were the feedbacks generated during interactive sessions to include; Lack of political will and poor leadership on the part of government which is a major setback in the development of democracy in Nigeria.
Absence of effective institutionalized structures of government that monitors and enforce the rule of law in Nigeria was observed as a factor that is adversely affecting the participation of the ordinary citizens in the polity as well as Illiteracy and poverty of the citizens play a vital role in electing incompetent leaders during elections, among others.