The traditional ruler of Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, HRM Eze Amaechi Ugwueje, has advised those in authority to adopt the bottom to top approach of governance.
This, he said would accelerate development in the country and create employment for the youths.
Eze Ugwueje, who aired his opinion on Nigeria celebrating 24 years uninterrupted democracy said a lots need to be done to entrench development and to give every one sense of belonging in the country.
The Royal Father insisted that for any government to make any meaningful progress it must pay attention to the diverse needs of the people at the rural areas. Eze Ugwueje, expressed that democracy is supposed to be the government of the people by the people and for the people, which entails a whole lot of expectation from the people.
According to him, “I can tell you we are only sensitive to what democracy is, our people believes that we have empowered our leaders and they are expecting good dividends and good results from them”.
“They are not asking for too much, take whatever you want, but transform the common man’s health, provide good roads and create employment, that’s what democracy is all about” he said.
Eze Ugwueje also said that he will work harmoniously with Governor Alex Otti to reposition Abia State. In his words, “Definitely we are going to work harmoniously in the State, we will allow them to settle down properly, review the past, arrange the present and see how they are going to make the future better”.
However, I know there are areas where we can intermingle, the area where I feel they have their jobs to do but not in isolation with us, it’s a continuation to the bottom to top development process I am advocating for.
The Government should not stay at the top and throw things down to those at the rural areas rather an effective feed back mechanism should be put in place between the government and the people to know if whatever was disbursed is properly managed and who they are committing their resources meant for rural and community development to.
Again every leader should see leadership as a divine call. So they should be able to ask what is the responsibility that I have and how does it impacts the ordinary man, how much happiness is my position bringing to the next man, when you put these thoughts together and put it in practice, the leader and the led will be happy.
On the statement of land title revocation to favour indigenes credited to the Lagos State House Speaker, he had this to say:
Making inciting statement is not why he was elected. They should try and see how they can unite the country, stop hitting the polity and polarisation of the country. it will not take us anywhere, every Nigerian has right to live anywhere in the country and to pursue his goals and aspirations as enshrined in the constitution.
