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A governor’s push for his people’s prosperity

By Areghe Abugo
05 October 2015   |   2:14 am
When democracy was established in Athens 2, 500 years ago, Solon the lawgiver, Cleisthenes the greatest and father of Athenian democracy and Pericles were responsible.
Okowa

Okowa

When democracy was established in Athens 2, 500 years ago, Solon the lawgiver, Cleisthenes the greatest and father of Athenian democracy and Pericles were responsible. Factors responsible for Athenian democracy were applicable to Nigeria, before and after the 1993 annulment that led to social stasis.

Those pro-military were known as “friends of the tyrants” while anti-military are regarded as “enemies of the tyrants,” these conflicts resulted in social stasis that brought democracy– “rule or government by the people”.

These happenings from 1985-1999, of dictatorship, lack of freedoms, absence of rule of law delivered May 29 1999. Democracy stems from Pericles understanding that: “our government is called democracy because its administration is in the hands of, not of the few but of the many”. The representative democracy necessitated by large population as distinct from direct democracy made Abraham Lincoln defined democracy: “The government of the people, by the people and for the people”. Democracy in ancient Athens or modern states entails duties and responsibilities.

Democracy without duties and responsibilities is anarchy; the state owes the people basic duties as the people owe the state responsibilities. As Governor Okowa is saddled with welfare, wealth creation and security of lives and properties, Deltans must rally round him for a better state where peace, justice and development strives. He understands what a stable economy gives when he said: “Creation of jobs for our youths in the state is to make them economically independent”. That is why 6, 000 jobs are created, in three areas of agriculture, vocational and technical education.

As the governor revives institutions to restore values, we must cooperate in fulfilling democratic responsibilities because disobedience and ingratitude retards a society. We can’t be aloof to social miscreants who distort government policies in various ministries, agencies and institutions. We must pray and watch through involvement as government change agents as there cannot be duties without responsibilities. In what way are we contributing to government efforts when we indulge in corrupt practices, indifferent to duties as civil servants, public servants, businessmen and political appointees? Is it how to promote the welfare of state?

Our duties entails not only voting but as citizens project the state, in our homes, offices, markets, streets and in whatever we do, to help government safeguard our collective interest. When people say “if you cannot beat wrong values join them” It sounds defeatist rather we should up to say “avoid those perpetuating evil values if you cannot change them”.

We must live on this, to reflect the good efforts of Governor Okowa on its citizens as anything contrary is sabotage, our school headmasters, teachers, civil servants, principals, provosts, lecturers, and every sector must reflect this wave of responsibility. The state belong to Deltans and the constitution envisaged that the governor cannot be everywhere hence the provisions of duties and obligations we owe the state. As agents of the state, we must discourage corruption, indiscipline and all forms of exploitation that tarnishes our way of life. This is how the labour of our heroes past must not be in vain.

In every stratum same mantra is needed, Governor Okowa as a medical doctor understand the importance of health to national development, the Governor had entrenched his values on every sector that there are positive changes that were lacking, today public hospitals are functional but the hospital management must reflect his ideas, they must see life as sacred and see the dignity of man as important. As citizens, we must reflect his patriotic image, not to divert patients to our private clinics, not to steal government drugs, not to extort the state, to be punctual for duties because contrary is constitutional sabotage.

Our environment is polluted, streets littered with filth; we dump refuse indiscriminately on roadsides, gutters and waterways. Efforts of government are frustrated by odd attitudes. This is the stench staring at us, health hazards are avoidable if we fulfill our obligations, environmental sanitation embraced, desist from blocking water ways and blame the government. Markets are filled with dirt and filth, health and environmental hazards common because of bad attitudes. Is this how to pay a government committed to our welfare?

We cannot abdicate our responsibilities. When both high and low see their position as an opportunity to give and not take, the prosperity of the state is assured. Taxation is obligatory and tax collectors must be upright, tax evasion is unfaithfulness to government because tax is the key to sustaining a state. Delta can attain Lagos feat in revenue collection if we as a people resolve to serve in truth, heart and might.

Wealth drained through corruption, negligence and incompetence bleeds government. In developed countries, technological advancement and development sprout because of efficient taxation; it is obligatory as sustenance. The affluent that don’t pay tax but complain of inadequate social services, to firms and companies that defraud the state are corruption leakages that drain the state.

We criticise government arbitrarily for the speck we see without asking ourselves what we have done to remove the log in our eyes; we fail in our responsibilities and duties yet expect miracles. These armchair critics who hide under ethnic, tribal, sectional shades are goons who never want Okowa elected; unfortunately his victory increased bitterness and hatred. These tribalists retard us with greed and selfishness. Okowa was not elected on tribal sentiments but competence, pedigree and acceptance by the masses.
• Abugo is the special assistant to Governor Okowa on social advocacy.

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