Yiaga Africa, a group of change – makers promoting democracy and good governance has urged the citizens and residents of Ogun State to demand accountability, responsive governance and quality representation from their elected leaders.
YIAGA said democracy goes beyond electing people into elective leadership positions during every general or bye – elections, stressing that it also includes constantly monitoring and demanding that those given the mandate to lead should give account of their stewardship always.
Yiaga Africa Senior Program Officer, Antonia Onda, stated this in Abeokuta, the state capital, at the weekend during the People’s Assembly and civic engagement forum which the body organised for stakeholders of Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency.
At the forum which provided an opportunity for the constituents to deliberate on issues that matter to them, Onda charged them to hold their representatives accountable at all time and demand visible and life – changing project implementations in their various communities.
She described the Town Hall Meeting as gathering of People with their legislators or representatives mostly without processes of follow ups on deliberations with the legislators.Onda emphasised that People’s Assembly differs from Town Hall Meeting.
Speaking at the programme, the federal lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly, Ibrahim Isiaka, said meeting had helped to deepen the understanding of democracy among his constituents.
Isiaka who represented by Mr. Abiodun Adeleye, expressed readiness to embrace change that would further improve on his impactful representation of the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency.
“People’s Assembly is not new to us. Some inputs, changes they are trying to introduce— we will take, look at, embrace and inculcate into the system where we effect our information for the needs of assessment for our Federal Constituency.
“We always talk to our people, requesting their needs, and with that we carry out the final decision on projects to do and implement,” Hon. Isiaka said.
In attendance at the People’s Assembly forum were representatives of groups from the constituency, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, trade association leaders, Community Development Committee leaders, transport unions, people living with disability, representatives of Ogun State Assembly members of the constituencies, students, artisans and National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN).
