Electorate urged to use power of recall

TO further consolidate the country’s democracy, Nigerian electorate have been charged to exercise the power of recall wherein an elected official can be removed from office even before the end of a constitutional tenure.

This according to the National President of Ikale Development Union (IDU), Colonel Festus Meghoma (rtd) would not only strengthen participatory governance but “bring development to the country and also improve the welfare of Nigerians.”

The IDU President who made this call in Lagos at a parley recently organized by the union for all Ikale candidates vying for political offices across the country, noted that apart from the power to elect their leaders and representatives, electorate have the exclusive power to recall erring leaders or representatives who failed to act in their common interest or in the overall interest of the country.

While congratulating the candidates for winning the tickets of their parties to contest in the polls, he warned that henceforth Ikale electorate would begin to exercise the power to recall should any of them elected to represent the people failed to live up to expectations.

The gathering attended by other Ikale eminent sons and daughters among who were former Dean Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos, Professor Eddy Omolehinwa, Major Dele Meghoma (rtd) and a medical practitioner Dr. Joseph Odogbo who presided at the occasion, resolved to set up a Think-Tank to be made up of well experienced professionals to serve as advisers and consultants to those who win election to represent the Ikale nation to ensure they perform very well and meet the expectations of the people.

One after the other, all the candidates addressed the gathering and presented their programmes to the audience who were mainly invited sons and daughters of Ikale.

Among the candidates at the occasion were Mr. Mike Negwo-Omogbehin, Omoniyi Naiyeju, Sola Ebiwonjumi, Adetarami Olowolafe and Morayo Lebi who was represented.

In his own remarks, Professor Omolehinwa advised politicians not to consider election as a do or die affair, to always remember that there is life after any election and that there are further opportunities in the future if they are unable to make it today.

Dr. Odogbo in his contribution blamed failure by past leaders and past representatives on the fact that they were never made accountable to the people who elected them while the electorates on their own failed to use their power to recall to whip them to toe the line.

According to Odogbo, the recalling power is another element of checks and balances apart from that of the legislature; provided for by the Constitution to promote and ensure good governance in the country.

The chairman challenged candidates who may eventually emerge winners to make the fight against corruption the number one agenda, because according to him corruption was the cankerworm that is responsible for the collapse of the few industries located in the past in the Ikale nation.

He urged the candidates to always remember that accountability is the soul of good governance and that corruption is a crime against humanity, stressing that it is another form of genocide.

According to him these industries included the moribund Oluwa Glass Industry and the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company.

He also challenged them to make a priority the completion of all the numerous developmental projects aimed at alleviating the suffering of the people started by the former government but which the present administration in the state had abandoned.