The Rivers State Coordinator, Campaign for Transformative Governance (CFTG), Comrade Samuel Chikweri, has called on Nigerians to learn how to engage political leaders in policy making and not to participate in democratic process alone.
He made the call at the town hall/stakeholders meeting organised by CFTG in Rumuwoji in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, recently.
According to him, the overall objective of the group is to mobilise Nigerians to not only participate in the democratic process, but to also continually engage with the political leaders in building and fashioning policies and programes that will meet with the aspirations and welfare of the people .
“The Campaign for transformative Governance is a labour and pro-labour civil society coalition together with pro- democracy activists and other stakeholders.
“The idea behind the formation of this organisation is to build a viable and broad coalition of activists and stakeholders that will champion good and transformative governance at all levels of government in Nigeria”, he said.
He noted that prior to the 2023 elections, the organisation went round the various senatorial districts in the state and educated the citizens on the need to own up the political process.
He urged the people to also consider the need to hold regular interaction and meetings with political aspirants and engage them with a charter of demands as a basis for their support.
The group’s leader further explained that the said charter of demands include the basic needs and expectations of the citizens from their leaders when elected into political office.
“Today’s meeting is to review the outcome of that engagement prior to the election, but more to discuss issues around local government administration in response to the latest developments in that tier of government”, he said.
On local government administration, he explained that as the tier of government closest to the people, it was expected that the power of the local government administration should be exploited to bring good governance to the community people, saying that without such endeavour, their existence makes no significant meaning.
Another reason he put up for the meeting was to know whether the people’s aspirations or expectations was met by the government and their level of follow up or engagement with the government and political office holders representing them.
This, he said, will enable them prepare for other levels of engagement and activities in the future.
The meeting was anchored on discussion on issues of national development in Nigeria with emphasis on Rivers State.
In her reaction, Mrs. Susan Oko-jaja called on the state electoral umpire, RSIEC to improve on their performance as they prepare for the forthcoming LGA election in the State.
Oko-jaja , said the election must be transparent and that the present Government under Governor Siminalayi Fubara will support plans to have a peaceful and successful LG election.
The discussants were Port Harcourt-based social commentator/activist, Comrade Ikenda Elechi-Amadi, Chairperson, Federation of women Lawyers (FIDW), Mrs. Adata Bio Briggs, Joirnalist, Opaka Dokubo, and Dr. Fred Dunibari, an environmental right activist.
Highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of Campaign For Transformative Governance Charter of Demand by the State Coordinator of the campaign, Comrade Samuel Chikweri.

By: King Onunwor