The Traditional Ruler of Akwaeze Community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Christopher Okpala, has identified total neglect of the grassroots governance by government at all levels in the country as some of the undoings of the Nigerian leaders over the years.
Receiving in an audience, the Anambra State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Awka, Mr Edozie Ajaegbu and his team who were in his palace on advocacy visit in continuation of their Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on National Security Consciousness on Get-Rich-Quick Syndrome and other four topical burning issues in the country, Igwe Okpala maintained that government should not in any manner neglect the grassroots governance in country for the sake of peace and absolute restoration of security.
The Monarch, who described the grassroots governance as the fulcrum of any given society, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his good office to fortify Nigerian communities by voting reasonable amount of money for their co-orporate sustenance.
“Government is neglecting the grassroots governance in the country and things are going wrong.
“NOA is doing well, but they should take back the messages of existing inequality among all ethnic groups in the country to federal government for urgent solution”, the Monarch said.
While calling on the federal government to avoid all forms of malfeasance capable of igniting unnecessary tensions and aggravating the existing differences among different regions of the country, Igwe Opkala advocated equal rights for peace to reign in the country.
He noted that his kingdom had before now, developed a functional system of disseminating information in the area, promising the visiting team that he would do everything within his powers to ensure that the good news gets down to every quarter of the community.
“People’s minds towards government have been polluted.If other agencies should join forces with NOA in this onerous task, things will definitely get better in Nigeria”, the Monarch hinted.
Briefing the Traditional Ruler amidst his cabinet members, Ndichie and President General of the Community, Chief Osita Udemba, among others, on the essence of the visit, NOA State Director, Mr. Ajaegbu, explained that President Tinubu was soliciting the people’s unalloyed support for his lofty programmes for Nigerians geared towards liberating the country from her political and economic quagmire bedeviling her over the years.
He noted that re-introduction of the old National Anthem by President Tinubu was aimed at checkmating the ethnic and religious differences existing in the country aged long, identifying the five topical burning issues in the country today to include, World HIV/AIDS Day, Security Awareness, Get -Rich Quick Syndrome, World Human Rights Day and the new tax reform bills of the federal government.
Highlighting the importance and the inherent dangers of the aforementioned issues, the NOA Director, represented on the occasion by the Deputy Director Programmes, Mr Remigius Obi, further explained that the Federal Executive Council and Nigerian Governors had unanimously heeded to the people’s call to establish state policing in order to ensure water tight security network in all communities across the country.
He warned Nigerians, especially the youths against burning tyres on tarred roads now the winds of the yuletide is in the air and bushing burning, advising the people to report any fire incident in any part of the state during the Christmas celebrations to any fire service station around them for appropriate attention.
He emphasized that Nigerian government under president Bola Tinubu is partnering the international communities in order to secure and make HIV/AIDS drugs available to those living with the dreaded disease in the country, adding that Nigeria had before now domesticated the issue of human rights in her constitution to enable the people possess landed property in any part of the country.
Addressing the participants on the National Values Charter Programme of the federal government, the Assistant Deputy Director Programmes, NOA, Awka, Mr. Ignatius Obiorah, expressed optimism that peace and security which he said had eluded the country over the years would be restored, if Nigerians should implement the tenets of the National Values Charter judiciously.
He identified the Charter as one of the key policies of the current federal government with the sole aim at building a unified co-operate identity for Nigeria as a multi-ethnic country.
Also speaking, the Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers of NOA in Anaocha Local Government Area,Mr. Nkechi Onwuka,thanked Igwe Okpala and his team for the warm reception they accorded them
In their separate contributions, the President General of Akwaeze Community, Chief Osita Udemba, Councillor Akwaeze ward, Hon. Uzochukwu Udemba, Secretary General of the Community, Nze Henry Uzochukwu and a former Councillor of the ward, Mr.Ilo Okwuolisa called on the federal government to integrate the National Values Charter in the nation’s educational curriculum with a view to catching the Nigerian child young, especially the youths.
“Federal Government should introduce the National Values Charter as one of the seminar topics for the elected Nigerian leaders before their swearing-in date”, they suggested.
The event which was attended by security men in the community, featured presentation of instructional materials to Igwe Opkala by the NOA State Director,Mr Ajaegbu.
