Why I’ll Introduced Participatory Governance… Prof. Ikonne

… Speaks on godfatherism

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate in Abia State, Prof. Uche Ikonne has reassured Abians that he would introduce the participatory system of government if elected, saying it is the only way democracy could be felt by the people.

According to the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, a good Government ought to make the citizens feel a sense of belonging, thus paving the way for the latter to be direct beneficiaries of the impacts of government.

Prof. Ikonne stated this today, Wednesday, during an interface with members of Online Media Publishers Association of Nigeria, at his Campaign Office, in Umuahia, and noting that he would lead Abians differently from the existing system of governance, insisting that Abians should rather consider what service a candidate would offer with less or no focus on the party in question.

“What is important is the service to the state and not necessarily the colour of the flag. What is your capacity, what knowledge do you have about the intricacies of governance of Abia State? Where do you know it hurts Abians most and most importantly, what will you do to differently for us to have a different result?

“That is why I have introduced the system of participatory Government. I preach it because I believe that citizens ought to gain from what government is doing; I preach it because the idea of citizens not trusting government is because they seem not to be close to what government is doing. So whatever they think about the government is based on their perception.

The prospective Governor of Abia who prided in his previous outstanding performances as the Rector at Abia Polytechnic Aba, as well as Vice Chancellor Abia State University, reiterated that introducing a participatory kind government would help restore the dignity of democracy.

He, however, regretted that the concept of a true democracy had been consigned to oblivion, hence the people no longer have a feel of the government, as it were.

“I preach participatory Government because I think that’s the practical aspect of democracy which is said to be the government of the people by the people and for the people.

How is it for the people of they do not participate actively in the activities of government.

“Good Governance is Participatory, Accountable, effective, efficient, equitable, responsive, inclusive, and respect the rule of law. Participatory governance will be driven by community development agencies as it will also make use of opinion leaders among others, to run an all-inclusive government”, he added.

This means that every segment of Abia State would be involved in government;

I have people who set policies, some their duty is to supervise the level of implementation, also I have people who will be monitoring and evaluating. And there would be a feedback from the system”.

Earlier, Prof. Ikonne disclosed that his emergence as Governor would bring the youths of Abia in to corridors of power, hence 40 percent of his exco would be reserved for the youths, as he also pledged to one youth from each of the local government councils abroad for leadership capacity building.

Furthermore, on the issue of the extant godfatherism in the State, the professor of Optometry stated without mincing words that he would not be a surrogate to his predecessor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, when he emerges Governor, saying,

“I will satisfy everybody but you will not distract me from what I want to do”.