The Yagba Concerned Citizens in Kogi State have called for the establishment of a Local Government Electoral Commission. This was contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day virtual meeting, signed by Chief Olure Peter Olawale, Convener/Chairman, Yagba Concerned Citizens’ Leadership, Security, and Political Summit, and Mr Segun Arotiba, the Secretary.
The group stated that the commission will be responsible for conducting elections, as opposed to the state-independent electoral commission.
They called for the encouragement of voter education and awareness to increase political participation and also for greater transparency and accountability in local governance.
The summit also advocated for policies that prioritise the needs of Yagba, particularly in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. They proposed the adoption of a zoning arrangement for the nomination of candidates for the House of Representatives to prevent the monopolisation of the position and the implementation of an educational programme on zoning, power-sharing, rotation of power, and quota systems, as practised at the federal and party levels.
In the area of traditional institutions, the summit called for the promotion of the Yagba Traditional Council under the jurisdiction of Oba Yagba, which would rotate among the three chairmen of the Traditional Councils of the three Local Government Areas.
According to the communique, this body will be funded by the office of the House of Representatives, the three House of Assembly members, and the three Council Chairmen until it is gazetted by the State Government and ratified by the State House of Assembly.
The summit emphasised the need for effective leadership to drive sustainable development in the Yagba region. It was acknowledged that leadership must be inclusive, transparent, and accountable, reflecting the diversity of the constituency and ensuring equitable representation across all regions.
In the area of security, the summit identified security as a major concern for both citizens and visitors in Yagba Land. The summit highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to addressing crimes such as kidnapping, community safety, and peacebuilding.
Stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies, local leaders, and the public was emphasised. Additional concerns discussed included border porosity, lack of personal safety education, the absence of a special squad to address kidnapping, the indiscriminate sale of land, and poor management of information related to past kidnapping incidents in Yagba Land.
The summit equally called for greater transparency and accountability in local governance and also advocated for policies that prioritise the needs of Yagba, particularly in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
The adoption of a zoning arrangement for the nomination of candidates for the House of Representatives to prevent monopolisation of the position and the implementation of an educational programme on zoning, power-sharing, rotation of power, and quota systems, as practised at the federal and party levels. Members of the House of Representatives from Yagba should regularly interact with their constituents and provide feedback on their activities.
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