Prominent Nigerians back OOTC’s call for LG autonomy, credible polls

Three prominent Nigerians and democracy enthusiasts, Tito Adeniyi-Aderoju, Bimbo Oloyede and Adeola Azeez, have supported the demand by the Office of the Citizen for local government autonomy and conduct of credible elections for sustainable democracy.

They spoke at the recent OOTC maiden Democracy Dialogue with the theme, ‘Promoting Sustainable Development Models for Effective Local Governance’.

The OOTC objectives align with the tenets of the #FixPolitics Initiative, all geared towards the growth of enduring democracy in Africa.

Explaining the essence of the programme, Adeniyi-Aderoju, who is also a marketing expert, said it was meant to advocate useful reforms that would empower local government administration and create room for credible elections at the grassroots.

“We are here to carry out useful dialogue to ensure local governments represent and empower the local people. We are dedicated people, committed to moving Africa forward. We believe in democracy that serves the people.

“Also, we are here to catalyse meaningful dialogue and develop strategies to empower local governments for sustainable development and effective administration,” she told participants at the programme.

She also spoke on the challenges facing local governments, and the best practices to empower them for transformative administration.

For Azeez, to achieve a working local government system, there is the need for decentralisation of power that will lead to autonomy.

She noted transparency, open data, and low corruption as fundamental to good governance and achievement of the objectives.

Azeez, a seasoned banker, stressed that the leaders need to engage citizens actively in decision-making processes to entrench healthy democracy, adding, “Provision of quality healthcare, education, social services and well-planned environments should be prioritised.

“Emphasis should be on environmental protection and sustainable development, which are necessary for long-term progress. There is also a need to encourage individuals with competence, character and capacity to serve at the local government level to drive societal transformation.”

The electoral body, Azeez insisted, must be truly independent to ensure free and fair elections.