Stakeholders Advocate Stronger Citizens, Political Office Holders’ Synergy

A one-day interactive forum organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Konrad Adenauer Stiffung (KAS), a German-based organisation has ended in Port Harcourt, with stakeholders advocating for a stronger synergy between political office holders and citisens to promote good governance in the country.
The interactive forum which was held at Swiss Spirit Hotel in Port Harcourt, had in attendance, representatives of the various security agencies, students, elected political representatives, traditional rulers, community-based organisations, and media executives, including the General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Vincent Ake. In his opening remark, the Director General, National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari, said the forum was organised to foster cordial relationship between elected representatives and the citizens to enhance inclusive governance.
The NOA Director General, who was represented at the event by Ngozi Ekoba, commended Konrad Adenauer Stiffung (KAS) for consistently sponsoring the programme and their concern towards promoting good governance in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Rivers State Director of NOA, Barr Young Ayotamuno, said the interactive forum was an initiative to avail the citizens of the state and other stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas with the elected representatives of the state and set agenda for development. He urged the participants to make meaningful contributions that will promote good governance in the state. On his part, the key note speaker, Dr. Innocent Barikor, identified effective interaction between the citizens and the elected representatives as the panacea for poor leadership.
Dr. Barikor, a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly who spoke on the topic, “Citizen’s Conversation with Elected Public Officials: The Promise, the Challenge, the Future”, said conversation with public officials was central to good governance because it serves as platforms for the empowerment of the people.