Ahead 2015 general elections, politicians have been urged to respect the social contract between them and their constituents in order to deepen the tenets of democracy in the land.
This was the advice of a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a senatorial aspirant in Anambra Central, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo.
Okonkwo who spoke at the PDP secretariat in Awka, remarked that “it is the poor attitude of politicians to those who elected them into office that is breeding this culture of distrust and acrimony, which manifests at every election.”
The occasion, which featured special praise, worship, and prayer session, was organized by party faithful and the entire party executive at all levels from Anambra Central Senatorial zone. It was witnessed by party chieftains, including the state chairman, Chief Ken Emeakaiyi.
The aspirant, who is the Political and Economic Adviser to the Archbishop of Onitsha & Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province said that the time has come for change in the way the voters are viewed as “nothing more than the people we merely go to for their votes”, adding, “this is wrong and we will push for a change.”
In his sermon, the Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Sam Ezeofor, advised members of the party to respect constituted authority. He told them that, “what causes acrimony is disobedience to authority. If you are disobedient you are causing problems for yourself. If you respect those in authority you respect God and if you disobey them, you disobey God.”
Okonkwo, in his declaration speech, stated: “We believe that the power of the people is stronger than the power of the people in power. In pushing ourselves on the need for change, we have drawn up a shared vision with the people. It is a bond between the led and the leaders; a charter of trust, a platform to rebuild confidence. It is a bond built on the absolute needs of developmental politics, morality, credibility and humility in service to God and humanity. We want to restore pride in the people, rebuild their confidence and make them believe again that power resides in them.”
He bemoaned the scant regards to voters by politicians, noting that it is only during elections that aspirants reach out to them because they are looking for fresh votes.
In his words, “in the last four years, we have painfully noted how our representatives have failed to account for how the mandate has been honoured; we have not held any town hall meetings or enjoyed the privilege of an interactive session with the people where stock is taken and the contracts renewed.
“We excitedly approach every election season as a time to return to the people, the custodians of the scared mandate of power to cajole them, implore them, coerce them and if possible buy them over. What do we do with this mandate? This sacred mandate, which is sought in every election has been abused. But we want a change; we want a change and we anticipate a change. It is the reason I am here.”
He stressed that he is not in the race to make up the numbers but as an agent for sustainable change to offer service and to “significantly alter the way leaders see those, who put them in power. We insist that without these people, there would be no leaders. A leader is a servant of those who handed over power to him. That power is the power to serve the people and not the power to dominate them. Today, these leaders visualize themselves as kings, emperors, tin-gods who should be served while they drive their people off the roads, into poverty, distrust, hopelessness.”
Okonkwo, a former Board Member of the National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos and Coordinator of the Anambra State Good Governance Forum (ASGGOF), noted that one major consideration in the quest for elective office is the consent of the people in collaboration with the party leadership. On the basis for his aspiration, he said, “it is not because of my university degrees that I consider myself qualified to seek to represent the constituents in Anambra Central. I have unreservedly identified with my grassroots, and for this reason, I have earned their confidence.
“We want to restore pride in the people, rebuild their confidence and make them believe again that power resides in them and in representing the people in the Senate, it will be with the awareness that power is in the hands of the people in which we shall demonstrate the will to deliver on the community charter of the senatorial zone, propagate quality representation anchored on accessibility, consultation, responsiveness and accountability to my constituents.”
