Aspirant, youth group protest alleged imposition of candidate

A councillorship aspirant under the platform of the People Democracy Party, PDP, in Bomadi ward one, Mr. Nelson Gomeromo has alleged that some party leaders had concluded plans to impose his co-contestant and incumbent councilor of the ward, Hon. Nurse Edeinmene, on the people of the ward in the runoff election earlier scheduled for this week.

The duo had tallied in the party ward primaries held Friday last week, as a result, the party leadership had scheduled Sunday 15th October, 2017 for a runoff election that was further postponed indefinitely without concrete reasons given to contestants and delegates, leading to chaos in the council headquarters.

Protesting against the postponement and the perceived plan of imposition, Mr. Gomeromo and his supporters marched down to the Bomadi Police Division to play their complaints and grievances, carrying placards with inscriptions that read “Bomadi ward one rejects imposition”, “We say No to imposition of candidate”, “For the sake of 2019, Okowa please intervene” and others.

Addressing newsmen, Mr. Gomeromo said “the election we held last week was historic; it was the most credible and transparent election so far in Bomadi. I think the credit should go to the party ward chairman, Mr. Tanko Awipi, because Bomadi has recorded what I call the freest, fairest and most credible election in the history of Bomadi politics.
“But now, we got information from an impeccable source that, the election will not hold today (Sunday) and that some party leaders want to impose the incumbent lady on us, which is a rape of the smooth democratic process that we are trying to nurture. We are saying no to the planned imposition.

“The emphasis that women should be encouraged vie for political offices should not be misconstrued for imposing a candidate on the people as it used to be done, as the party hierarchy both at the national and state levels are bent on encouraging true democratic processes and principles.
“The plan to introduce female favouritism is an unacceptable imposition which Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the State Party Chairman/Executive abhor in their promise to be fair to all. Nobody should accordingly drop their names and tarnish same in their plans to impose candidates.

Governor Okowa is reportedly an advocate of female gender imposition in elective positions and I agree with that.
“Those who seek gender favouritism should seek available options where only female candidates could contest and emerge, not in the middle of an ongoing process where winners are expected from either a male or female in contest.

The party leadership had battled to create unity; some selfish interests should not let the party relapse into deep schisms and be inflicted with deep scars”.
s in Nigeria have been urged to replicate knowledge of diversity nature of the people in reporting developments across the country to strengthen national cohesion, socio -economic development and peace.

The call was made at a media discuss in Lagos recently, organized by the pro media right group, Journalist for Democratic Rights (JODER) , as diversity reporting was highlighted as one of the most strategic ways Journalists can enrich the debate on future of the country as well as strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“Nigeria is passing through difficult moments, since the country’s independence in 1960, there has not been an inspiring national ethos. The country remains deeply divided. Poverty and underdevelopment remains, justice and human rights issues are yet to be fully addressed. The media needs to come forward to shape the future of the country through diversity reporting”
JODER executive director, Mr. Adewale Adeoye said, the event was organized by JODER in collaboration with the New York based International Institute for Education (IEE).

The event, according to JODER capped series of training programs and advocacy organized by JODER in the past one year on reporting diversity as a way of building the capacity of media practitioners.

Adeoye said “by reporting diversity, Journalists are also promoting good governance, conflict prevention, deepening the culture of debate, dialogue and strengthening the capacity of media to advance public good”
JODER stated that represents the various shades of materials, social, political and cultural relations in the society and the manner the media engages them.

It added that diversity reporting remains the media responsibility to the people as it tests for effective media coverage of all in relation to the people’s activities, the environment, culture, poverty, gender, disability and the interplay of other social factors in the society.
Former Deputy Editor, Daily Independent, Mr. Wale Abatan urged Reporters to approach diversity reporting through and intensive constructive dialogue. He said that diversity reporting enhances utilitarian value and advances public good.

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba