As the date for the general election approaches, community based civil society organizations in Adamawa state are holding conversations around political participation and democracy dividends.
Lidimba Community Foundation (LCF), a local CSO in the Mbula kingdom of the state is the convener of Saturday’s meeting, hosting key stakeholders of the Mbula ethnic group under the theme “Building bridges across streams and rivers.”
The Mbula people of the Northeastern Nigeria are found in Demsa, Girei and Numan local government of Adamawa state.
The Chairman of the LCF, Stephen Hasso, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police says the forum was formed to identify and address challenges impeding the development of the area.
Hasso decries the marginalization of the Mbula community achieved through weaponization of orchestrated discord among the people by the political class for selfish goals.
“We must clear the doubts of negative perceptions and erroneous impressions in the minds of people who do not wish us well that Mbula communities are too disunited for any positive development.” Hasso appealed.
According to him, the forum will among other things focus on community enlightenment on civic duties and intentional good use of the voters’ card.
“There is a lack of honest, transparent and selfless approach to governance as often times we fall under the full weight of greedy political class and as such we need to vote for credible, upright and accessible people with track record of performance in their public or private lives.” He admonished.
Other speakers at the strategy meeting also harped on the need for vote seekers to come before electorates bearing score cards and realistic inclusivity plans to win the confidence of the people.
