by Editor
With just few days to the next general elections, you can still demand that your leaders fulfil their previous promises if they are to get your vote. Even with the election frenzy, and the fact that your representatives are completely in campaign mode, their attention can still be shifted to the citizens especially when they know that their chances of reelection is at stake. In a democracy when the elected representatives are failing in their responsibilities to provide public goods, the onus lies on the citizens to explore other means of demanding good governance. This is exactly what citizens in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states did.
Citizens in Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers States found new ways to demand for good governance and accountability. What better way than holding their leaders to ransom with their votes.
In a tweet that was posted by an active citizen who is a follower of the YMonitor accountability and transparency project, two banners that painted the social reality of citizens with regards to non-delivery of public goods were attached.
The first banner read “SOS!!!!. Help Us Construct This Road. Over 2000 voters live here” It was signed by Residents. The second banner which has the names of about four streets, read “No transformer, No Vote”. The first banner was said to have been seen in Akwa-Ibom, while the second was seen in Calabar.
It is no doubt a creative way of dragging the attention of government to the plight of these residents. YMonitor is of the opinion that democracy is an all-inclusive government, and when it seems that the state take lightly her responsibility to the citizens, it is the duty of the citizens to bring this to the attention of government through every legitimate means possible. Such is what the citizens in these two states are doing, there is no need to ask for our vote if you cannot make available infrastructural facility that will better our lives. And if you want our vote, provide this.
These citizens have taken the necessary action to demand for good governance, and we hope that their plight will be addressed. We are calling on the Akwa Ibom and Cross River states government as well as other stake holders concerned to see that the needs of their citizens in these areas are met.