Igwebuike Ndi-Imo Network Group (ING), a not-for-profit and non-religious, pro-good governance and democracy organization, held its maiden annual summit on December 30, 2016, at Dreamland Hotel, World Bank Road, Owerri, with the theme: Igwebuike Ndi-Imo Network Group for Democratic Good Governance, Quality and Credible Leadership Summit.
The summit was chaired by a distinguished Nigerian and Imo son, Dr Walter Ofonagoro, former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The keynote speaker was Prof Uzodimma Nwala, while other speakers included Mr. Samuel Ajayi, Prof C.C. Ikeji and Dr. Jimanze Ego Alowes.
At the end of the summit which attracted Imo sons and daughters from all walks of life,
a. The invited speakers and quests expressed profound appreciation to the leadership of Imo Network Group (ING) and applauded the vision and mission of the organization. It was resolved that such organization (s) was (were) needed to help salvage the situation in Imo State.
b. Whereas it was agreed that it is the political culture of the people that produces their leaders, the people must make concerted efforts to change their political culture if they must have the right leadership they so much need.
c. That if the people of Imo State want good leadership where good democratic governance reigns, the people must eschew the culture of seeing voting during elections as business and opportunity to make some money, but see voting during elections as a veritable opportunity to enthrone the right leadership that would pursue the common good of the people who elected it.
d. That when the people monetize the voting system they mortgage their collective future and those of their children unborn, as no political leader would be responsible to the people if he bought his way to power.
e. That Imo Network Group (ING) should serve as the platform to galvanize and mobilize Imo people towards changing their political culture.
f. That if the people want a leadership that would provide quality economic template and stimulate economic activities in the State and empower the people to achieve their economic potentials, the people should reject non-municipal and non-tax residents of the State who fly in from their residences only for the purposes of winning elections. If the non-municipal and non-tax resident politician wins elections, he ends up evacuating money to his base, with the assistance of his cronies who are also non-municipal and non-tax resident indigenes of the State. This would only worsen the economic situation in the State.
g. That the people of the State should reject the statusquo where the leadership does not show any respect for the social contract with the people, and ensure that leadership that respects its social contract with the people should be enthroned at all times, because that is that essence of leadership.
h. That the followership has huge responsibility in determining the kind of leadership they get, and should mobilize against any leadership that exhibits any form of corruption and clannishness.
i. That the people have a right to know those who aspire to lead them, and thus should insist on having the right dose of knowledge of those aspiring to preside over their collective affairs, as men with questionable character and wealth should not be put in positions of power.
j. That in order to have good governance in the State, the people must have mental revolution and put mechanism in place towards rejecting and checkmating profligacy in government at all times.
k. That Imo people should rise up and shake off the defeat mentality and take their collective future in their hands, by mobilizing to end the era of visionless leadership in the state.
l. That until the people enthrone credible leadership, the hope of having good democratic leadership in Imo State would continue to be a mirage and development would continue to be an illusion.
m. The summit agreed that Imo State must be governed on the basis of the tripod of good governance, namely, Transparency, Accountability and Inclusiveness (participatory and policy inclusiveness), which tripod is presently missing in the State. As a result of the missing tripod of good governance, Imo State is backwards on all indices of development.
n. The participants called on Imo Network Group (ING) to continue the mobilization and galvanizing processes and extend hands of synergy to any kindred spirit organization.
Ikechukwu Ikeji, (Solicitor and Advocate)
For IMO NETWORK GROUP (ING)
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