NUJ holds townhall meeting on governance, citizen participation in Democracy advancement

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By Bimbo Adenrele, Palma Ileye

In continued efforts to ensure its roles in development and growth of the country through the media, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT Chapter, has organised a townhall meeting to deliberate on good governance and citizen participation in Democracy advancement.

Delivering his welcome address at the event held yesterday at the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat in Abuja, Head of Station, We FM, Mr. Benjamin Ubiri noted that the purpose of the NUJ deliberation was to ensure a government that was responsible to the yearnings of citizens.

Ubiri while citing the thought of an American philosopher while distinguishing between democracy and feudalism pointed out that in a democratic setting, the citizens votes count which was a total the reverse in feudalism.

He posited that the votes of citizens should count if Democracy was the order of the day.

In his words, Mr. Amos Duniya, Chair-Emeritus, National Consultant NUJ, Co-founder/ Editor Fore-front Newspaper a panelist at the meeting said that citizens should participate in holding Government accountable.

Duniya reflected on the just concluded elections saying that it depicted that Nigeria was going backwards.

He noted as long as people force themselves into Government they will not be willing to be accountable also explaining that when citizens votes count, they will be able to hold Government accountable.

Another panelist, Miss Kemi Yusuf CEO/ Editor in Chief Frontline News Online emphasized on the principles of good governance which she stated that were free, creditable and transparent elections.

Also, Yusuf said that electing the right people who believed in credibility and were ready to ensure service to the people and that the rule of law was upheld should be given the opportunity to make Nigeria work again.

She noted that the positive side of the recent election was that new candidates were elected to replace incumbent speakers of the Legislative Houses.

On the other hand, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu an Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations of the Strategic Studies, Peaceably Conflict Resolution stated that there was the demand represented by the citizen and the supply side depicting the state.

He disclosed that there were two types of Democracy, such as: the evolutionary democracy and the Revolutionary Democracy, which might be peaceful or violent depending on how it was managed.

He also explained that in evolutionary democracy citizens participate. Also stating that in revolutionary democracy the citizens pressurized the Government to meet their needs.

Proffering solutions to the state of Democracy in the country, the Panelists agreed that politicians have infiltrated the media and the Civil societies by establishing them and influence them to pursue their whims and caprice, which should be checked.

However, they stated that the media was enjoined through the freedom of protection bill to voice out Government mismanagement.

Also journalists were encouraged to repackage themselves by attending training, dressing well and have right connections to head Ministries and key position to be able to effect positive change in governance.

Thereafter, a documentary titled the audacity of citizenship was displayed as the basis for citizens participation in the country’s governance.

The documentary depicted the need to ensure that Government uses its funding effectively. Furthermore, it indicates that in every country there are three sectors engage in progress of the country namely the Government, Private and Civil Sectors.

Lastly, it enjoined the need to follow the voice, activate the voice, build the voice and let the voice influence the policies.