Group Advocates Collective Movement Toward Good Governance In Nigeria

A Non Governmental Organisation(NGO), The Collective Movement (TCM), has urged Nigerians to embrace a collective voice against buying of votes to ensure good governance in Nigeria.

The National Chairman of TCM, Dr Dayo Kayode, made the call on Monday at the maiden Southwest conference of TCM stakeholders held in Ibadan.

The theme of the conference was,“Organically Mobilising and Enlightening the People for Their Economic and Political Emancipation”.

The Chairman said that the essence of the conference was to enlighten and emancipate citizens from social, economic and political trauma.

He noted that TCM should not be seen as another political party, but the group of Nigerians that eager to see a new Nigeria that would work for all citizens.

According to him, the aim of the TCM is also to mobilise people organically without any financial inducement but to raise their understanding in choosing the right people to position of authority in future elections.

“If we can show our strength as citizens, we can easily determine who should represent us in the house of assembly and other positions.

“If we can sensitise citizens against selling of their votes in exchange for infrastructural development and good governance, we can easily identify and choose credible leaders, “he said.

He charged TCM state coordinators in the Southwest zone to begin massive mobilisation for TCM in every local government in the six states across the southwest geopolitical zone.

“We are doing the same awareness in other five zones in the country; we want to organically sensitise people in all 774 local governments in Nigeria against selling of votes in exchange for destiny of unborn generations, “he said.

The Guest Lecturer, Dr Adesina Ojo, from the Department of Psychology, Lead City University, Ibadan said that the call for a truly people-driven developmental process in Nigeria in recent times, had grown more urgent and resounding.

He said the theme  presented a challenge and opportunity for all stakeholders across civil society, governance and others to rethink the foundations of citizen engagement and empowerment.

“Amid rising social and economic inequality, persistent political disillusionment, and widespread misinformation, one of the most urgent tasks before any democratic society, especially one as complex and diverse as Nigeria, is reconnecting power with the people.

“The theme is not only timely but foundational to nation-building, peace-building, and inclusive development,“ he said.

Also, the Ondo State TCM Coordinator, Mr Yemi Tadema, said that the conference was an eye opener aiming at preparing the minds of citizens ahead of the 2027 elections to choose the right candidates.

“It a collective movement irrespective of political parties affiliations because hunger does not recognise political parties.

“We have the strength and resources to move forward, we must be resolute to have a say in the governance of the country so as to move the nation forward," he said.