MY SAD FEELINGS ABOUT ANIOMA STATE CREATION'S PUBLIC HEARING

 

As a well trained journalist on Democracy and Governance related issues, I had tried hard to seek for the right process to be followed and also made public for all participants (both Yes & No folks) to actively participate in Anioma State Creation's Public Hearing, because we are in a democracy.

Based on my past experience and training, as well as to keep my media engagements and records straight, so as to be able to sleep well thereafter, hence, this is the reason for this brief  post.

There are vital steps to be taken by any Nation's National Assembly before announcing a public hearing over any intended bill. These steps below must be followed:

1. Drafts the bill: The relevant committee or ministry prepares the bill, considering stakeholder inputs and policy implications.

2. Reviews and debates: The bill is reviewed, debated, and possibly amended by the assembly's committees and plenary.

3. Stakeholder consultations: Informal consultations with key stakeholders, experts, and interest groups may occur.

4. Committee scrutiny: The bill is scrutinized by a specific committee, which may hold private hearings or meetings.

5. Approval for public hearing: The assembly decides to hold a public hearing, inviting citizens and stakeholders to provide feedback.

This process ensures the bill is thoroughly examined before the announcement for public hearing. 

From day one, I heard that there is a move by a Senator for the creation of Anioma State, I was over happy and got ready to actively engage, and demanded for its draft bill, I wrote many online posts asking for the draft bill, set same to various WhatsApp groups where many active political actor were actively involved in, yet got zero response.

When I heard via media reports that the bill for Anioma State Creation had passed its first ready, I commenced a second round of demanding for Anioma State Creation's draft bill, none responded, aside an invitation from an Asaba political chieftain, who invited me over to his place, asked what I meant about my online agitations, I explained how all I wanted was for the best interest of democracy and governance, though, his questions cum demands for answers about my move, style, approach, and membership of my team, were responses I never saw how such demands and answers to him fits into my request for Anioma State Creation's draft bill, in any means or standards related to an active citizen's request for a copy of a draft bill he is particularly interested in, wants to meaningfully engage and get involved into.

I got totally disconnected from the whole engagements once it became obviously clear that intelligent, independent active citizens interested in Anioma State Creation are systematically side lined from their democratic rights of active engagement into public decision-making process with reference to Anioma State Creation. 

How can making public and available to active citizens, the draft bill on Anioma State Creation an impossible task, I ask, of all the senators, who, we were told had voted for Anioma State Creation, was it not copies of the draft bill, they were engaged with? Or were they approached with words of mouth? If there were reviews and debated at the National Assembly, was it not with copies of the draft bill? Was it done with words of mouth? At the Assembly’s committee level and at the point of public hearing approval and announcement, where was the draft bill? Was the draft bill available at these points and occasions?

My deep disturbing concern is, why is an important public document like a draft bill on Anioma State Creation never in the public domain, again, why is it that, when active citizens demand for it, the draft bill evaporates into thin air? 

Worst of all is that two weeks to the public hearing at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, active citizens ready to engage, don't have any clear cut public information about public hearing's venue; what is needed to be done at the venue and how; all these are vital public information for crying out loud, democratic exercises are never cult-like folowing nor hard to reach/get engagements.

As at five days to Uyo's public hearing, the above information are yet public, even, as at yesterday, there were no websites nor social media platforms where these information were published or posted, this reality is undemocratic, hence, my huge disconnect from the entire process, as I wonder thus, with what democratic document or instrument will those going to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, use to engage the public hearing Proceedings, what sections of the draft bill on Anioma State Creation Bill are they going there to be in support with; which parts of the draft bill are they also not comfortable with, indeed, this is undemocratic.

I wish to ask (the over 200 technical committee members enlisted, as stakeholders & members of Uyo's public hearing) if they had seen copies of the draft bill on Anioma State Creation? If yes, why had they not made it public to various constituencies from where they were selected for feedback inputs from these constituencies? 

Truly speaking, the only reason for public hearing is a democratic opportunity for active citizens, stakeholders, organisations, and others to engage the contents of the draft bill, then I ask, how can they engage a draft bill that is not at their disposal at the public hearing?

TO BE CONTINUED...........

Okonta Emeka Okelum is an online journalist, social analyst, governance activist, sustainable development enthusiast, and grassroot community development champion, with special focus on governance, democracy, rule of law, politics, human rights, and development in Nigeria.

POST ISUH-OFOR RITES: HOW ASAGBA AHABA REACTED

 

Yesterday, Monday, Asaba Nation's Elders, Women, Youth led groups and organisations in response to the royal directives of HRM Asagba Ahaba, Asagba Prof Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, walked the path of honour.

The royal directive highlighted an immediate response, as well as an end to all hopeless, image damaging social vices and criminalities, breeding within Asaba Nation.

Ahaba Nation's response to this royal directive yielded an over 100% positive results, via a townwide campaign and advocacy project, wherein a high powered traditional spiritual exercise of pronouncing unfortunate woes and misfortunes upon folks (both Asaba natives and non-natives) who instigated, implement, benefit from, are involved or were aware of any of these ugly social vices and criminalities of cultism, drug peddling, and Kidnapping.

During a post, Isuh-Ofor rites reception as decreed by Ahaba Monarch, Ahaba Nation felt the response of their royal father. 

Earlier, upon the entrance of Asagba Ahaba into Ogbe-Eke Square, venue of the post rites reception, Egwu Otah Ahaba Royal musical tunes heralded his majestical royal arrival.

Thereafter, Obi Chief Nwanze Oduah, Odogwu Ahaba, chronicled in detail how the team of committed and faithful Ahaba Nation's Citizenry, he led responded and embarked upon His Royal Majesty's royal directives, as well as, hard core streetwise revelations, he saw, encountered and was surprised that such realities happens within Ahaba Nation's landscape, as he shared some way forward towards ending such ugly trends.

An elated Oshimili South Council Chairman, Hon. Chief Kelvin Obi Ezenyili Ph.D, expressed his satisfaction over the event's successful outcomes.

He also appreciated Ahaba Royal Father's courageous steps towards undertaking this monumental task of sweeping away from Ahaba Nation, the ugly, image damaging criminalities of cultism, kidnapping and drug peddling.

The council boss also ceased the occasion to list his administration's responses and Impact into the fight against criminality within Asaba and Oshimili South LGA in general, as well as the vivid responses such moves had made resulted so far. 

Responding, Asagba Ahaba, Asagba Prof Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, appreciated his subjects over their over 100% response to his directives.

He also promised to do more for Ahaba Nation and appealed for their cooperation and loyalty.

Upon Asagba Ahaba's departure from the event's venue, the event organisers under the watch of Odogwu Ahaba, Obi Chief Nwanze Oduah, treated Ahaba folks present to a well lavished rounds of entertainment, merry-making and fun-filled sessions, with zero dull moments therein.

Okelum's Multimedia Production For Asaba Post Media Solutions 

AT LAST, ASABA STOOD TALL, COMMITTED, FIRM AGAINST ALL DANGEROUS SOCIAL VICES WITHIN HER TERRITORIES.

 

AT LAST, ASABA STOOD TALL, COMMITTED, FIRM AGAINST ALL DANGEROUS SOCIAL VICES WITHIN HER TERRITORIES.

Every Dick and Harry in Nigeria today, like the back of their hands, knows that there are some social vices that are huge negative plugs, which hopelessly negate peace, unity, growth, security, advancement, solidarity, and sustainable development of any village, community or clan in the nation.

To this extent, the entire Asaba Nation, today, Monday, left no stone unturned, at making sure that social vices within Asaba inland town and all her satellite outpost settlements are cleansed of these social vices. 

Many thanks to the visionary leadership strides of the town's Monarch, whose wise leadership strides led to today's evolutionary and revolutionary trends within its wings, bearing positive outcomes, as testified by natives, residents, business owners and visitors, who stood in awe, surprise, shock and seemingly unbelievable state of expression on their faces, as the procession and train of Ahaba townwide renouncing cum super cleansing motorcade of anti social vice crusaders toured Ahaba's length, breath, width, and four cardinal points of the town, championing, advocating, campaigning, while, disseminating the Gospel of social change and grassroot oriented renewable, advancement and sustainable development, this narrative made a huge difference, remarkable outcome and left all within Ahaba Nation asking, what is this new trend and happening in Ahaba Nation today.

A few weeks ago, Ahaba Monarch and his council members were inspired to launch this new directive towards a permanent traditional end to all Ahaba based social vices. This wise resolution led to today's reality, all thanks to all of them.

Today, Monday, 30th June, all positive minded Ahaba Community Elders, Women, and Youth Leaders turned out in their numbers in response and solidarity to their town's Monarch's new directives towards a total end and a complete renewal of the town's roadmap envisioned at complete annihilation of social vices in the town, which to any standards of evaluation, left the most positive yardsticks of affirmative outcomes. Many thanks to all Ahaba Traditional Stakeholders, whose support and solidarity toward the realisation of this initiative brought forth the most beautiful outcomes. 

The day's renouncing and cleansing rites began at the early hours of the day, with an initial consultative summon at Ogbe-Eke Square unto all Ahaba Divine Entities, Gods, Goddesses, Essences, Spirits, to wake up to the fight for total annihilation of social vices, within her geopolitical spaces and landscapes. This spiritual exercise at Ogbe-Eke Square, this morning was a function and implementation of well organised function, designed to awaken all Ahaba spiritual entities, to respond positively towards the realisation of today's Pro-Ahaba function.

From Ogbe-Eke Square, all Ahaba progressive stakeholders embarked upon a townwide tour of all the town's inland town sacred grounds (Ihu-Ani Ogbes); as well as junctions and points of entries into all Ahaba Satellite Towns, and Ime Ogbe Sacred Grounds (Ihu-Ani Ogbe).

This townwide procession, which began at Ogbe-Eke Square, undertook the most progressive townwide procession, with a lot of accolade to the town's Monarch.

The train moved from Ogbe-Eke Square to Ihu-Ani Umuezei to Ihu-Ani Ahaba, then to Ihu-Ani Eze Anyanwu, to cable point, then headed towards Asaba end head bridge.

Then the train moved down to Asaba Cattle Market, along Asaba-Benin Expressway, then had a brief stop at Okwe Junction, Bonsacc Bakery Junction, Achala Ibusa Junction opposite Deputy Governor's Office by Asaba-Benin Expressway, and then stopped at Koka Junction.

This proactive minded Pro-Ahaba progressive train began their next round of townwide rejecting, renouncing, and cleansing rites from 74 Junction down to Pinacle Junction, opposite school of midwifery.

Leaving Ahaba's satellite towns, the progressive team moved down to Ihu-Ani Efule-Efu, by lion house, along Nnebisi Road, then moved to Ihu-Ani Umuagu, next to, Ihu-Ani Ugbomanta, next to Ihu-Ani Umuonaje and Ihu-Ani Umuaji, thereafter, returned back Ogbe-Eke Square, the last bus-stop, where the progressive team, was lavishly treated to a rich, entertaining welcome back reception.

At each of these above-mentioned inland town's sacred grounds (Ihu-Ani) and satellite town outposts, two canon shots were released to inform and appease the Deities in charge, about the mission of the day.

Some well renowned traditional chief priests of these over 100% potent Nature Deities (Alusi) were carefully reached out to, lobbied, and soght their freewill participation in today's event, over which they willingly subscribed to, either because their past generations were born into Ahaba, as well as that, they naturally love this town that had massively blessed and supported their respective traditional enterprises in the town, for which, their gladness over this day, according to them is an endless memory.

This proactive townwide procession was greatly led and organised by Obi Chief Nwanze Oduah, Odogwu Ahaba and Ogbueshi Uche Nwajie, Onoi Ahaba, respectively, of which at each Ihu-Ani and Satellite Town's Junctions, joined the invited Nature Deities at making futuristic pronouncements in support, defence and solidarity of the day's mission and responsibility.

Returning back to Ogbe-Eke Square, all participants in the campaign and rally were welcome back home to some wonderful Ahab traditional musical tunes and later enjoyed great rounds and sessions of merry-making, entertainment and fun-filled sessions.

Today's townwide exercise came to a beautiful end at Ogbe-Eke Square, where some rounds of cannon shots were realised to signify the end of the day's event. 

This post here is a first-hand and preamble to the forthcoming full-scale video record of the day's event, soon to be uploaded on Itah Di Na Ahaba's YouTube Channel, please stay tuned!!!!

Okonta Emeka Okelum's Multimedia Production For Asaba Post Media Solutions.