… Advocates Mindset shift for citizens to embrace ARISE Agenda
The ongoing Akwa Ibom Dialogue on the ARISE Agenda has been lauded as an intellectual discourse on public sector initiative and good governance put together by Governor Umo Eno and Ied by renowned Economist, Professor Akpan Hogan Ekpo.
This was the position of the Rev. Osondu Ahirika during an interaction with newsmen on the merits of the dialogue and launch of the ARISE Agenda which is holding at the Ibom Icon Hotel, Uyo.
Earlier, Rev Ahirika who serves as a Commissioner on the Governing Board of the Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission, EARCOM, speaking as a guest on the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting, AKBC, Television programme, Centre Point, said the business session’s of the dialogue anchored personally by the governor is a hand’s on approach demonstrating his commitment and focus to the vision.
Ahirika who argued that the Akwa Ibom Dialogue is a sub national referendum on the development manifesto of Governor Umo Eno, observed that this is a historic move where a Leader had to subject his political agenda and blueprint to public scrutiny before embarking on implementation.
EARCOM, Ahirika said, will remain at the vanguard of selling the ARISE Agenda to the citizens through mass sensitisation campaigns deploying the print, electronic and new media, as well as road shows and other unorthodox mediums to ensure the people are fully aware of the tenets of the ARISE Agenda.
Ahirika, who heads the Media and Advocacy unit of EARCOM submitted that the Commission will not relent in her campaign for a mindset shift in the citizens so that political prejudice, ethnic bias and crass cynicism will not distract the people from fully benefitting from the lofty goals of the ARISE Agenda.
While maintaining that making the people understand, appreciate and embrace the agenda is a sine qua non for its success, Ahirika decried as false insinuations that the dialogue is censored to exclude the people or that, it is merely an elitist gathering for business as usual.
Dismissing such misinformation as unhealthy and antics of mischief makers, Ahirika said EARCOM will continue to fight all forms of social pollution including fake news, rumour mongering, political propaganda and blackmail, as tenaciously as the Commission wages moral rectitude campaigns against all manner of social vice’s.
He said EARCOM will readily partner relevant stakeholders to mobilise support for the success of the Governor Umo Eno led administration.
