Calls For Good Governance At Raymond Dokpesi Lecture

FOR the country to enjoy sustainable peace, the basis for power sharing must ensure that adequate stake is giving to constituent parts of the Nigeria project with women and the youths also receiving opportunity to participate in governance.

This was the position of the Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji and Senator Folashade Grace Bent, on Thursday, in Abuja, at the fourth Raymond Dokpesi Annual Lecture organised by the Raymond Dokpesi Centre for Media Development.

Orji maintained that good governance and democracy are prerequisites for sustainable development as both stimulate economic development and accelerate gains that will ensure peace and stability. He also noted that encouraging regional units and identical geopolitical units to unite and pull together resources for effective development with a weak federal structure is germane.

On her part, Bent stated that when God said that women are to be helpmates to men, it was not only at the home but also in managing the nation. She argued that just like men find it difficult maintaining the home without the women, the nation cannot be governed rightly without crucial input from women.

Orji said: “It is good governance and democracy, combined, that have been acclaimed as pre-requisites for sustainable development. The reason is that they, together, foster transparency, accountability, the rule of law, respect for human rights, civil participation and inclusion of all citizens; all of which are necessary for securing economic productivity, equitable resources distribution and state legitimacy.

“We need to deal with the challenges of resource management, both human and economic, and provide for the future needs of the citizens. We need to decisively tackle institutionalised corruption at all levels to enhance the loyalty and patience of our citizens as they contribute and wait for the benefits of democratic development.

Grace Bent gave a list of women who have played critical roles in developing their societies. She mentioned women, like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and Margaret Ekpo. She observed that the United States of America, knowing the critical role women can play in governance, zoned the Secretary of State to women. She said women should be given more roles in governance and every sector of the nation, not just limiting them to women leaders in parties or first ladies.

She also called for conscious investment in the youth because though the nation cannot build a future for the youth, it can, however, build the youths for the future. She advised the youths not to allow temporary economic gains be reason why they should be used for political violence.