By: Admin.
Citizens’ Solution Network is asking the following salient questions:
1. Who are the persons on the committee?
2. How are they selected?
3. Are they all from or going to be from APC_ the party with the highest criminal record in Nigeria and on the Lugardian playbook?
4. Are its members from all three societies, including the fourth estate?
5. Do we have journalists, activists, retirees, working technocrats, youth representatives, and industry leads who do not swear allegiance to the governor and political party, but to the Cross River State Flag in the committee?
6. What is the duration of the member’s stay on the Committee?
7. Do they change and replace them with fresh leads every year or two years?
8. What are the criteria for selection?
These are the key Questions to ask and demand that the Citizens’ Assembly’s approach to the emergence process is adopted to reflect the diversity of thoughts and policy debate across the State.
We are aware that the Deputy Mayor in Paris is the head of the Citizens’ Assembly, where deliberative democracy is advanced and policy is based on public research to resolve societal problems using undoctored polls.
We need to know where we’re taking our notes from and what our collective imagination and new thinking can bring to the development of the State genuinely.
On our part, we love to recommend an ambassador with huge international exposure like Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo to aid the foreign policy objectives of the committee. Cross Riverians in the diaspora are willing to be engaged to lead growth and development in the State if well structured, and a credible hand with a track record is needed.
Also on our recommendation list is the person of Etubom Arch. Bassey Ndem to fastrack the tourism architecture of the State from the standpoint of mobile and evolving architectural designs and built corridors.
Citizens Agba Jalingo should be enlisted to such a Committee to add ethical identity shaping to the thought processes and to reflect public consciousness and concerns.
Nothing is stopping the State from having His Royal Majesty, The Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, and Obol Lopon of Ugep, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng to guide the communal conflict alternative dispute resolution project of the Committee_ the State is plagued with so many.
A credible retired senior paramilitary or military officer from the State should be reached out to mount the security themes and strategy coupling of the State in that committee.
More recommendations should be entertained and a portal for the same should be opened to Cross Riverians.
Let’s get things right and let’s start with genuine intention.
Signed
Richard F Inoyo, Country Director,
Citizens’ Solution Network.
