BILKISU ABDULLAHI-YAHUZA
Kogi State Government has been urged to embrace the principles of citizen participatory democracy through Open Government Partnership Stallion.
The Chief Executive Officer of Stallion Times Media Services Mallam Isiyaku Ahmed stated this during a one day capacity building organized by the body for Journalists,Civil Society Organizations, Religious and traditional rulers in the state
Mallam Ishaku also said that the essence of the workshop was to equip stakeholders on strategies for effective engagement with government and private sector to effectively deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
Mallam Ishaku noted that citizen participatory democracy is a form of government where citizens actively participate in the decision-making process, typically through mechanisms like town hall meetings, public foria, referendums, and citizen assemblies.
According to him, such a political gathering aims to involve people directly in governance, fostering greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to citizens’ using Permanent Dialogue Mechanism achievable through OGP.
The Special Adviser on Media, to Kogi State governor Alhaji Usman Ahmad Ododo, Mallam Isa Smail said the Governor is committed to the ideals of openness in governance, saying that he has led a transparent and accountable government in the last ninety days.
Mallam Ismail appreciated Stallion Times and the partnership to promote dialogue among stakeholders for the development of the society
The Co-Chair of OGP,Non-State Actors in Kogi state, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, describes OGP as a global concept of co- creation where government and citizens work together for the benefit of everybody.
According to him, OGP is a voluntary concept, where by any government that feels transparent and accountable to its citizens can join fold to ensure transparent government.
Ambassador Muraina commended the management of Stallion Times for their unwavering dedication to advancing the principles of open government and for their commitment to driving positive change across their sites in Nigeria.
In the same vein, the representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN, Pst.John Oluwole Babatunde and that of Council of Ulama, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed also appreciated the media organization for its efforts in updating the knowledge and experiences of participants on the concept of accountability and trust in governance among others.
Recall that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, officially inaugurated the steering committee of OGP
