MANDATE PROTECTION CONTINUES EVEN AFTER ELECTIONS:
Many will agree that Nigerians more freely gave their mandates to political parties and candidates of their choice during the 2015 general elections than ever before when they helplessly watched their mandates stolen in broad day light.
the electoral reforms designed and implemented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the determination of the Nigerian electorates to "protect their mandates" ensured that the 2015 general elections was largely freer, fearer and more credible as adjudged by local and international observers. The elections produced leaders who appears to have been truely elected by the people.
By freely and truely electing our leaders, we have indeed protected our mandates. But does mandate protection end with freely and truely electing our leaders?
Lets all recall that during the build-up to the 2015 general elections, political parties and candidates made series of electoral promises. We should also recall that political parties presented their manifestos; and in some cases, parties and candidates signed "pacts"with citizens at various levels; committing themselves to upholding the fundamental principles and practices of democratic good governance.
Now that the storm of electioneering is over and the waves of politics are subsiding, the actual business of governance should commence. This is the time for all Nigerians to truely stand up to protect their mandates. This is the time to hold political parties and elected leaders accountable to their manifestos and campaign promises.
mandate protection continues even after elections. We must ensure that:
1. our elected leaders remain with us and continue to live with us within our local communities.
2. our elected leaders declare their assets and disclose their official remuneration and allowances.
3. our elected leaders return to us regularly (in our varius constituencies) to ask for our needs and take our voices and views on issues, policies and programmes of government.
4. our elected leaders, especially those at state and national legislature open Constituency offices through which the citizens meet and communicate with them
5. we the citizens know the names and contacts (phone and email) of our elected leaders as well as location of their Constituency offices.
6. we the citizens refrain from making spurious personal monetary and material demands from our elected leaders.
7. we the citizens pay attention to, monitor and evaluate the actions and inactions of our elected leaders and regularly provide them with documented feedbacks.
8. we the citizens pay attention to, monitor and evaluate the preparation and implementation of our annual budgets at local, state and national levels; including the emmanating policies, programmes and projects of government (including awarded contracts) within and outside our constituencies as well as draw the attention of our elected leaders to issues concerning them.
9. Above all, we the citizens must be prepared to vote them out if they fail us, or be willing to renew their mandates if they satisfy us.
This is how to protect our mandates!
