Daily Independent (Lagos)
Adam Adedimeji
19 November 2008
Voters Awareness Initiative held its first National Democratic Round Table with the theme: Charting a New Road Map held at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja.
The event was witnessed by a cross-section of Nigerians, which included members of the political class, C.S.O and NGOs across the country.
The chairperson on the occasion Mrs. Sarah Jubril, in her address, called for an improved voter awareness programme.
She also stressed the need for the introduction of professional ethics for the political class and an improved electoral system in the country.
Two persons presented papers at the event namely Dr. Emmanuel Anielifo, an economist and President, Change Network Africa whose paper entitled "A new Economic Order for a new Nigeria" and ACP Femi Oyeleye, Officer in Charge State Criminal Investigation Department Plateau State Police Command Jos, who presented a paper, entitled "New Nigerian Police for a New Nigeria".
In their presentations, both speakers did justice to the topics to the extent that the papers were recommended by members of the audience to be presented to the executive and the legislative as working documents.
In his welcome address, the President of Voters Awareness Initiative, Wale Ogunade Esq., stated that apart from the Democratic Round Table, being an annual event, Democratic Round Table centres would be created all over Nigeria to enable Nigerians express their views, demands and suggestions, that will be presented to the government.
Ogunade added that to get these views of the people a body would be set up known as Democratic Lobby Group and it would be made up of representatives of major stakeholders in Nigeria.
The Democratic Round Table called on the Federal Government to ensure that technocrats are appointed to handle government business so that the people will have a feel of the dividend of democracy.
In a similar development, the verdict of the Court of Appeal that declared the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, who contested the Edo State governorship election on April 14, on the platform of the Action Congress (AC) as the rightful governor of Edo State is not unexpected.
A statement from the President, Voters Awareness Initiative, Ogunade, said the judgment of the Court of Appeal, and the recent victory of Barrack Obama in the American election are indeed a dream come true.
The statement added that the two great events are an indication of change taking place all over the world.
It noted that the judgment of the Court of Appeal has without a doubt shown that for the first time, the wishes of the Nigerian people are respected and for the first time, the votes of the Nigerian people have counted.
Voters Awareness Initiative added that the new wind of change that is blowing all over the political landscape of Nigeria for the enthronement of true Democracy in the country.
The statement added, "For Barrack Obama, years ago, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jnr, told the whole world that he had a dream, he was called all sort of names but today Obama is now the dream now that the dream has come true".
Voters Awareness Initiative called on the U.S. President-elect to put all his words during the electioneering campaign to action, warning that this should not be seen as winner takes all, more so as he has been accepted by Senator McCain, his Republican Party and not only all Americans but the whole world.
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