An NGO, the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), has called on elected political office holders to give account of stewardships by organising town hall meetings with their constituents nationwide.
The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday that elected public office holders should relate more with Nigerians on their development efforts in the past three years.
According to him, executive governors, council chairmen, senators, members of the House of Representatives, state assembly lawmakers and ward councilors should convene expanded town hall meetings to properly brief their various constituents on their stewardship.
“They should let the people know developmental projects they have done or attracted as well as their efforts towards tackling serious socio-economic challenges such as youths unemployment, restiveness and insecurity.
“They should do these town hall meetings urgently and not take the voters for granted any longer.
“Today, voters are more informed that politicians can no longer deceive and mislead them through provisions of emergency empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes prior to every periodic election.
“But only to disappear after the election, and reappear during next election time,” he said.
He said that Nigerians were desirous of electing benevolent, competent, capable, selfless and patriotic servant leaders “who always think about the next generation, not the next election”.
The chairman said that the 2023 general elections had provided a unique platform for effective positive change through voting in God-fearing servant leaders, and voting out corrupt, inept politicians who are bereft of ideas and innovation.
He said: “Docile followers precipitate docile leaders.
“Hence, the inevitable and ineluctable need for citizens to be the watchdog of those in authority by asking questions where and when necessary on how public funds are spent for public good, interest and welfare.”
