The Big Tent, a coalition of political parties, social movements and civil society that constitute the Third Force for national retrieval and transformation has released the list of its National Policy Review and Future View Team.
In a release issued and signed by the Policy Coordinator, Professor Pat Utomi, the Coalition said the team is set up “to enhance the functioning of Democratic Institutions and to begin to restore legitimacy to government at a time when Governors are pointing to large areas of ungoverned spaces, ways and means money creation that has repeatedly violated the law and set the country on the course of surging inflation, Oil theft and the production of Oil at close to half of our OPEC quota has driven up the misery index from an already negative pole position of the poverty capital of world.
Utomi said the team is going to have its first meeting this week, saying their engagement in policy contestation will shed light on why the promise of Nigeria has become blighted and will henceforth suggest how policy can move Nigeria from the obsession with the sharing of hardly existent revenues to production.
He said in assembling this group of citizen actors for the people, primary consideration has been given to competence, passion, inclusion, and commitment to the unity and security of Nigeria and advancing the wellbeing of the people, in the firm belief that a new Nigeria is possible and can be achieved now.
He said: “In addition to this team, we are pleased to announce that we have set up a college of spokespersons from every state of the Federation, and the six zones, plus Abuja, to deepen the communication to the grassroots, of the work of the policy teams as they propose alternatives to extant policies in other to see a shift from revenue bating and conspicuous consumption emphasis to a production culture that will lift up the quality of life of Nigerians”,
He said this shift in emphasis which will dramatically shrink poverty, and put the Nigerian economy in a place where SDG targets are advanced will form the core of the new orientation, adding that prescriptions will have to include practical, immediately implementable decisions that can stem the rot and reverse Nigeria’s slide.
“These spokespersons who will also communicate the efforts of the Big Tent for Peter Obi Campaign, as the Labour Party candidate leads the college of leaders working together to win the 2023 election so Nigerians can take back their country through what is truly a government of the people, for the people and by the people.
“This group has a duty to be manifestly ethical, accountable and live a disavowal of corruption.
Due care has been taken to have a team that includes very experienced older leaders, creative and highly exposed younger people, women, the physically challenged and patriots from all parts of Nigeria. They are also drawn from the academic community, policy arena, domain of praxis, civil society, and politicians’ active in the field”, he said.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.