Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has called on governors to promote the campaign for free and fair elections in 2011.
The governor made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while presenting a paper on “States’ Role in Good Governance in a Federal System” at a conference organised by the Nigeria-U.S. Bi-National Commission.
“The states have an important role in safeguarding the freedom and liberties of all people living in their territories.
“The need to ensure free and fair elections is fundamental.
“Once elections are won and lost, there should be nation building, bridge building and individual interests should be kept aside,” he said.
Shema said good governance should be viewed in terms of transparency and accountability by public officials.
“Good governance is mostly perceived in the context of provision of services by government, especially in strategic sectors such as education, health, energy, water supply.
“Important as this perception may be, there is more to good governance in a democratic society,” he said.
Shema said good governance should address issues such as regime change through credible elections as well as promoting transparency, accountability and political participation.
Others, he said, were respect for fundamental human rights and rule of law as well as outlining a conceptual framework for development.
The governor said his administration had inaugurated community development committees to monitor government programmes at the grass roots.
“The committees were formed out of our desire to ensure that governance has input from the people or a bottom-top approach to governance.
“The composition of the committees encompasses all major stakeholders in the localities,” he said.
Also speaking, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said elective office was a call to service.
He said states should be allowed to use their local capacity to initiate development.
“I continue to support the idea of a federal government for Nigeria with the federation that understands its role as the central government and its interventions that will allow development to take place,” he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, commended the governors for their contribution to the development of the country.
Ms Maria Otera, the Head of the U.S. Delegation for Democracy and Global Affairs, urged Nigerians to cultivate the spirit of transparency and accountability.
“We have seen the investigation and prosecution of many corrupt Nigerians.
“Governance has to be for service to the people,” she said.
(NAN)
