Tuesday, 18 October 2016

ABIA LGA ELECTION; THE NEED TO PUT SQUARE PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES




The forthcoming Local Government Council election in Abia, slated for December 2016, promises to be an upgrade from what was obtained previously. Not only has the state government began to put in place adequate mechanism which will bring about a free, fair and credible election, but has also ensured that various contenders are given a level playing field to play by the rules. Even the godfather conundrum is by no means allowed to play out in this election, as contenders are allowed to carry their cross all by themselves.

Such has been the competitive level of the forthcoming local government council election.The Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has stated that Abia needs credible candidates who shall reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people to emerge in all the local governments including his own; Obingwa.

In paraphrase, Sir Bernard Shaw warns that "progress is impossible without change, which must be anchored on a changed personality that shall galvanized the people for progressive eldorado. Therefore whosoever that cannot change himself will never change anything". Thus, the aphorism of Shaw actually captures what needs to be done in Abia, especially as it relates to local government election and administration, if the highly sought after progress is to be sustained in the state. On this card therefore, there is a believe that there must be a determination of all Abians to ensure that they provoke the needed progress and transformation in Abia, through a non biased, objective and less prejudiced voting behaviour, by enthroning a credible, focused, exemplary and result oriented local administrator today, so as not to  regret tomorrow.

On the part of the contenders, Abians must ensure that crooks who never shared the burden of the peoples' plights and suffering are not elected. In fact, a debate should be possibly scheduled, so as for the people to ascertain the intentions, visions, targets as well as the missions of each contender at every local government council, all of which must be clearly and unambiguously collapsed in their individual manifestos; the reason of which is to ensure that they not only understand the explanations adduced by the contenders but also, ask critical questions.
Those who are unable to clearly sell through their goals, vision and mission to their local people should never be elected into public offices irrespective of how popular they are. The reason for the meticulous undertaking of the above mentioned activity is because a public office holder can only be held accountable for his words and nothing else. [ads-post]

In this light, Abia online will be running a live streaming while other indigenous media houses in Abia, (MCL TV Aba, Magic FM and Love FM radios) will be on ground for this debate slated to hold on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th October, 2016 at MCL TV studio Aba. This debate which is prototype at the level of the local government elections in Abia State  will kickstart with contenders from Isialangwa North and South LGAs at party primary level. This will be a test run for the more encompassing debates just after the party flag bearers emerge .  More details will be made available to the public in this regard.

Again, as local administration remains the only government that is closest to the people, people must be very painstaking in the election/selection of their representatives. Hence, any error in election of selfish politicians who swim in the shimmering diffusion of opportunism and matchless appetite can only be corrected during another periodic election which might be a very long period of unendurable suffering for the people.

Finally, the emergence of purpose driven, actionable, determined and focused local administrators in the forthcoming local government council elections in Abia State, to head the 17 respective local government area councils, will contribute immensely in the realization of democratic ethos which our people so dearly crave and deserve.

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