Ndokwa Group Tasks Stakeholders on Development
OBIARUKU/Nigeria: A group, Ndokwa Think Tank Assembly, (NTTA), has called on stakeholders to work towards the development of the Ndokwa area, as they identified what they called progressive cannibalism in the political landscape of the Ndokwa Nation.
The call which was made in a recent meeting held in Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government, Delta State.
In a communiqué, released after the meeting stated that the political class in the area over the years, had constituted themselves to do according their self assumed principles, but not for the common good of the people.
“This is the outright willingness for our politicians to do whatever they can to get elected, and eventually cannibalizing their own people and ideals without minding the resultant socio-economic and political implications.”
The group frowned on the various elected officers from Ndokwa Nation, go about giving false impression of attracting development to the people, despite the lack of evidence to that effect, and become very humble before the people just to win elections.
“Is it not tragic how humbled most of our politicians becomes before every elections but fails to remain humble to the wishes of the people after electoral success.”
The Ndokwa Think Thank Assembly further frowned at the use of material incentives to hoodwink the electorates just to get their votes before elections.
“When reps take postures that are antithetical to the welfare of their people; when the people are always eager and anxiously waiting for their usual pre-election incentives, and election day bonuses as their only hope of a constituency goodwill from their elected representatives and politicians; when our reps compromise priority projects (or constituency preferences) for personal gains.”
The Full Communiqué reads:
RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIAN POLITY: BEING A CALL BY NDOKWA THINK TANK ASSEMBLY TO END AN ERA OF PROGREESIVE CANNIBALSM AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS
Our call is to all stakeholders of the electoral process to rethink their postures towards the growth and development of Nigeria (Ndokwa/Ukwuani people in particular) as our political landscape is replete with evidence of what can only be referred as progressive cannibalism. This is the outright willingness for our politicians to do whatever they can to get elected, and eventually cannibalizing their own people and ideals without minding the resultant socio-economic and political implications.
Is it not surprising to see our representatives (reps) boast about how happy they have made our people through their barren empowerments schemes, even when it is obviously not the case or no evidence on the ground to show it? Is it not tragic how humbled most of our politicians becomes before every elections but fails to remain humble to the wishes of the people after electoral success? Is it not pathetic when you quantify and assess the index of development existent across the nation despite her inestimable natural and intellectual resources? When reps take postures that are antithetical to the welfare of their people; when the people are always eager and anxiously waiting for their usual pre-election incentives, and election day bonuses as their only hope of a constituency goodwill from their elected representatives and politicians; when our reps compromise priority projects (or constituency preferences) for personal gains; when our elected reps do not know their onus as public servants, and when mediocrity thrives where there are great minds are palpable cases or indications of progressive cannibalism.
In view of the forthcoming elections (2019 elections) we are firm in our resolve that the panacea to the greatest threat to our development in this democratic era is not necessarily found in going to the poll but in the process of making the right choices for the emergence of credible leaders to be in power. We are conscious of the fact that the means we use (either good or bad) is pre-existent in the ends we seek. We therefore call on all political parties in Nigeria to allow for a robust and credible internal democracy that will allow the best candidates to emerge in the forthcoming primaries at all levels of governance in the country, bearing in mind also that a credible process is an antidote to violence in our polity as loss of democratic culture in our respective political parties can aggravate the already drifting ship of state.
The Ndokwa Think Tank Assembly (NTTA) therefore restate that:
- A system that will render the people without a viable choice party or candidate that would give the electorate reason to vote will reveal a fundamental flaw and is progressive cannibalism
- Pre-election incentives should not be a basis for party delegates to make their choices, as the existence of potential market for votes within and outside the parties does not only attest to the poverty in the land but reveals the quality of an aspirant, and the failure of our leaders over the years.
- Our political parties should emphasize personal attributes or candidates’ clear cut ideological answers to existing socio-economic and political problems, leadership charisma, and procedural fairness in the conduct of their primary selection of candidates for elective offices
- Tested leadership credentials should be hinged on existing relationship between these candidates aspiring for public offices and their brigade of subordinate over the years as determinant of transformational leadership.
- Candidates who doles out handouts and various items as empowerment as a decoy to woe or corrupt the consciousness of delegates and electorates should be seen as enemy of the people as those are not acts of charity but are done to violate our will, and are in defiance acceptable goodwill.
It is therefore our charge at the NTTA, and to all Nigerians that as we prepare to take part in the electoral process (internal party and general elections) to separate and distinguish ideas from propaganda, merit from mediocrity, worth from wealth that stakeholders must embrace attitude that will enthrone a polity of good value and virtue for the development of our people.
Signed:
*Mr Ameachi Nwador, NTTA’s President
*Mr Chidi O. Uwabuofu, VP
*Comr. Francis Chukwusa, Secretary
*Comr. Micheal Olise, Publicity Secretary
*Comr. Otuata Michael, Member
*Comr. Moses Onyegu, Member
*Amb Elike C. Joel, Member
