Abia Commences Community Participation In Governance

Chike Onyendilefu, LL.B (Hons)

SUSTAINING ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT AT ENGAGING THE POPULACE IN DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS - COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE

The SSA to the Governor of Abia State on Rural Orientation and Sensitization, Chief Chibuike Onyendilefu has informed a teeming crowd that was gathered at Ndiolumbe civic hall for the commencement of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu's "COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE" rural mass meeting, that the Governor is determined to alleviate rural poverty and empower the entire people of Abia living in the rural areas by ensuring that each community has a participatory role in governance... (Please click on "read more" in blue colour below to continue reading and view 'PHOTOS'

The senior special assistant states that Dr. Ikpeazu is not thinking like most leaders who believe that power can only be effective after a four-year tenure when people cast their votes. He stresses that Dr. Ikpeazu wants Abians to feel the power in their voters' cards consistently. "Dr. Ikpeazu believes that citizen participation in governance should involve ordinary citizens assessing their own needs and participating in local project planning and project monitoring".

According to the SSA, what this will require is that the people in the rural areas must rethink what they have always regarded as poverty alleviation and instead, take pragmatic steps to acquire needed skills that will enable them fit into the rural area development agenda of the Governor. He further said that the attitude of people assessing government performance as only when it gives handouts is worrisome. He encouraged people to acquire skills that will give them life long term benefits.

Questionnaires designed to show that the government alone cannot meet the needs of the rural people individually was distributed and filled by almost everybody present at the meeting. When some of the completed forms were analyzed, it became clear that almost everyone wanted the same things and expected government to meet their needs individually. Attendees were surprised at the absurdity of their unrealizable expectations from government.

The SSA informed all present that he was already in talk with big shops such as Shoprite, Mr. Biggs and other such eateries to enable some of the rural people involved in farming such as fish and livestock farming, crop and vegetable marketing to be trained by experts in branding and packaging. This products are expected to be branded in their own names and trade marks could be stocked and marketed by such mega retail outlets & eateries.They were encouraged to form cooperatives so that government can deal with them as verifiable groups. That way, they will be able to access loans such as agricultural loans.

Chief Onyendilefu implored some to learn GSM and auto repairs, vulcanizing, tilling, tailoring and shoe making etc. Professional drivers were not left out.

He encouraged them to key into the government entrepreneurship training programmes and also form cooperatives so that government would be encouraged to give them loans knowing that such loans will be recoverable and circulate to other beneficiaries. He promised to return to assist them set up such cooperatives once they organize themselves.

All that were present left excited and didn't exhibit the usual attitude of asking for handouts, characteristic of such crowds after political events.They implored government to make this a regular activity, take what they regarded as an eye opening sensitization to other parts of the state. The people were pleased with the information given to them because it bothered on how to fish by themselves.

Gov. Ikpeazu had begun this grassroot campaign and empowerment program previously at the senatorial zones. Therefore, this particular program is a painstaking effort at ensuring that no one is left out even at most rural areas.