Greece is said to be the bastion that sired the rights and liberties that humans are savouring today. Democracy as a system of government and at the level of practice is credited to that ancient State where civilization also enjoyed systematic evolution. But democracy and civilization did not just bolt into space. They arrived on the heels of an earlier model of relationship where humans consorted in pursuit of common good. The model was prescribed as town hall meeting.
Town hall meeting is loosely based on a democratic practice development in Athens around 400 B.C. It is widely believed that democracy has its root in this ancient practice. A town hall meeting can be defined as an informal public meeting. It often discusses the issues in the community and explores ways one can chart to improve them. While the meeting is adjudged as the closest to the people, it also has the inherent attribute of involving the largest number of people and providing the most open platform for views.
A town hall meeting is typically open to everybody in a town community with attendees given unfettered platform to voice their opinions and demand answers from public figures on matters that bother them. It is a direct interface between the leaders and the led with the collateral risk of flared tempers where any of the parties do not possess the requisite temperament and civilization. It is a risk most leaders do not often willingly subject themselves because of the likelihood of tilt towards a marred outcome.
Many leaders are genuinely afraid of facing the people especially when the score-card of their stewardship is likely to be the fulcrum of discourse. This is aptly illustrated in interviews where the interviewer is often expected to send to the interviewee questions in advance to allow the latter to familiarize and acquaint himself with the questions and what answers to proffer. This has been standard practice over a period of time in formal settings. But a town hall meeting is different from an interview. Outside its large number of attendees is also the non-censorship thus allowing leaders to interact and feel the pulse of the people.
The Akwa Ibom Town hall meeting which started in Eket Federal Constituency on March 5, 2015 and expected to be replicated in all the other nine federal constituencies in the State can best be described as a novel initiative. Dialogue is a postscript of democracy. People must create opportunity to talk and bare their minds. Where people do not talk or where there is breakdown in communication, misunderstanding, mistrust and other human elements set in to rankle the human union. It may have been why Governor Akpabio stated in Eket that the town hall meeting is to create harmony and allow the people to have a say in the business of governance. Discussions which are the enduring import of town hall meetings create such harmony with its overriding effect on the unity of the people.
One of the obvious avowals of Akpabio administration is building a state that would remain inextricably bound in one accord. He has approached this with assiduity and zeal and with assurance that only unity can ensure our collective progress. The even distribution of infrastructure and political opportunities are testimonials of Governor Akpabio’s unbridled commitment to the unity of the State. For a governor who sees the State and not a section as his constituency, the need to ensure that the key elements of consultation, participation and discussion are brought to bear in the polity, subsist for him as strong pre-occupations. This is where the town hall meetings that are being embarked upon across the ten federal constituencies find impetus and expression.
It was Arnold Glasgow who observed that the test of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency. The governorship election of 2015 is already on the tenterhooks with the polity soused in tension and predictable mistrust. The governor’s vision of engaging the people in discussions and interactions that would birth the people’s will is a welcome dawn in our democratic practice. It is heartwarming to note that majority of the people appreciate and applaud the vision while internalizing the critical values of justice, equity, fair-play and good conscience as the roadmap that would guide the choice of governor in 2015.
The courage that the town hall meeting initiative embodies is also a veritable subject for commentary. How many leaders would accept to face the people in an unfettered discourse under the prying eyes of global audience watching the event live on television? Only Statesmen whom they say are concerned about succeeding generations against politicians that are only concerned with the next election can find the courage for such adventure. Governor Akpabio is already manifesting statesmanship traits as he works assiduously to entrench enduring values in our polity. There is no gainsaying the fact that what he is planting today would bear fruitful seeds that would benefit many generations and stabilise the polity for guaranteable prosperity.
The action of the Akpabio administration in conceiving the idea of a town hall meeting is a sharp contrast with pro-establishment culture. Government that is in fear of itself, that has not cultivated relationship with the people can not embark on a town hall meeting or desire to partake in one. But the Akpabio administration has dared to be different. It has not only built goodwill and strong cordiality with the people of Akwa Ibom, it has through its works proved that, yes, indeed, government can work. It is why it can organise a town hall meeting/briefing and commissioning of projects to face the people with evidence of good governance.
The Akwa Ibom Town Hall Meeting has undoubtedly lived up to its billing as an initiative predicated on robust democratic culture. Against the prediction of pessimists that views would be circumscribed, the assembly has everywhere it has gone reinforced its commitment to democratic values and untainted sincerity towards midwifing good governance. In every federal constituency, the atmosphere has remained unfettered with every speaker at liberty to speak his or her mind. Examples of such liberty were noticeable in Eket Federal Constituency where Honourable Nduese Essien spoke fearlessly. Of course, Senator Eme Ekaette was equally unsparing. At Etinan Federal Constituency, Senator Effiong Bob laid bare his mind even as it seemed to be at variance with popular position. Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency was not too different as the combative paramount ruler of Ibiono took the governor to task. Governor Akpabio who is the statutory moderator at all the town hall meetings, on his part, countenances all contrary views in a manner that further dignifies the assembly as a bedrock of democratic practice.
The Town Hall meeting which is a tripartite as it also includes briefing and commissioning of projects captures succinctly Abraham Lincoln’s observation when he said: “what I want is to get done what the people desire to have done, and the question for me is how to find that out exactly”. This same question must be Governor Akpabio’s current seizure. And as a democrat and an emerging statesman, he has instituted a process that would collate views of the people and use same to chart a direction for the State. This approach is what many described as government by consultation, interaction and participation. It is the authentic democracy. We must therefore pay tribute to the man who has opened the floodgate for sundry views to come together to complete for acceptance. With this approach, we are assured that our democracy would remain on course with justice, equity and fair-play as watch-words.
Emmanuel Enoidem is the honourable commissioner for Special Duties.
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