By Eseoghene Emuke
The Delta State Civil Society Community, umbrella body for registered Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and non-state actors, says it will hold engagement meetings with candidates of all political parties in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections as part of its civic responsibility to promote good governance in the next dispensation.
Among those to feature in the interactive sessions with all political parties’ candidates for the 2023 polls including the Deputy President of the Senate and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly and PDP governorship candidate, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and former Minister of State for Education and SDP gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi.
The President of the Delta State Civil Society Community, Dr Martins Kedienhon, disclosed this on Saturday while addressing journalists in Asaba, the state capital.
Dr. Kedienhon said the group’s decision to meet the candidates was to demand for good governance by engaging political parties prior to the general elections.
He said Deltans were eager to elect the best candidate to lead them in various capacities.
“This engagement will interrogate the manifesto of political parties candidates and extract their social contract for the people.
“Over the years we have seen situations where, State house of Assembly candidates, Federal house of representative candidates and senatorial candidates cannot express themselves in public, some don’t have the legislative experience and qualities to lead so they end up becoming a bad representatives to their people when elected.
“The seat of the Executive Governor of a State shouldn’t be for anyone, it is a very sensitive position that should be for only the best candidate especially in an oil and intellectually rich state like Delta.
“The seat is supposed to be meant for someone with capacity and desire to bring about Development in the state, and a candidate that will be people oriented if elected. We are no longer in the era of ‘yes sir and i concur’, now is the time to vote for eligible, trustworthy and competent representatives and leaders”, Kedienhon stated.
Kedienhon reiterated the group’s desire to continue to sensitise Deltans on the need to vote for the best candidates during the elections.
He added, “The kind of leaders elected will determine the kind of development that will be attracted to a constituency and to the State. There won’t be room for wicked, evil and selfish leaders. Leaders that will not visit their constituency till the next for years of election or attract meaningful projects and not support people oriented policies or have direct contact with their people after elected should not be voted for.
“Civil Society will also embark on street campaign, showcasing the opinions of citizens for every political candidates running for one position or the other in all State and Federal constituencies in Delta State. The Civil Society as a major observer during this forth coming election will do diligent observing and reportage in order to avoid cases of election malpractice in the forth coming election.
“As advocates of peace, we will continue our sensitizations and advocacies to make sure that there is zero violence before , during and after the 2023 general election.
“2023 general election will not be business as usual. The people’s choice must emerge.”
