International Day of Democracy: AfA Leads Road Walk in Demand for Good Governance in Imo state

September 15^th, marked the International Day of Democracy, celebrated globally with AfA implementing the anti-corruption project of the Center for Legislative and Advocacy center, CISLAC, with funds from MacArthur Foundation, led a road walk in demand for good governance in the state.

The convergence point was the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) Owerri and persons represented at the road walk centered around the role of social inclusion of vulnerable groups, were women groups, civil society organizations, people with disabilities, the Albinism community, and the youths. They walked to the Obi Ndi Eze at Mbari, where the team was received by the Chairman of Traditional rulers of Owerri zone and Traditional ruler Awaka Ancient Kingdom, HRH Eze Akujuobi Osuagwu.

Ms. Majorie Ezihe, ISCEVAWG Co-Ordinator, introduced the team, explained that the road walk was a means to demand that democratic tenets are upheld using the commemoration of the International Day of Democracy which is marked globally. She pointed out that the choice of the traditional ruler was strategic move in respect to the relevance of the traditional stool as an old institution of leadership. 

The Program Officer for the CISLAC project, Lilian Duru, spoke on the need to mainstream critical elements of good governance – social inclusion, transparency, accountability into the forthcoming elections whilst encouraging the traditional ruler to take advantage of his position to help douse the growing general apathy in the rural communities.

The traditional ruler appreciated efforts put out by the coalition promising to support. He, however, stressed the need to partner with and complement the government’s efforts in ensuring citizen’s government.  

Other organizations represented during the visit were members of FIDA and National Human Rights Commission.