I have followed most of the posts and comments on this forum for quite
some time.
From my observation, it’s clear that we as Ethur elites have reduced
ourselves to pettiness at the expense of critically analyzing the development
challenges in our district. We seem to take politics as the only means to
development and have thus chosen to ignore other factors that affect our
development. I do understand and acknowledge that politics is critical to
development since it involves distribution of resources.
However, it’s very critical for us to first understand the key
development challenges affecting our district and understand how we found
ourselves in that situation. For example, how did Abim General Hospital get to
its current state under our watch? How did Awach road deteriorate to its
present state? Where exactly is the problem?
When it comes to the education sector, how are we faring in comparison
to other districts both regionally and nationally? Are we meeting the global
targets in as far as elimination of illiteracy is concerned? Is it the absence
of funding or mismanagement of the available funds? Who do we hold accountable?
Who are the budget holders?
In answering the above questions, we should do it with sobriety and
avoid reducing this critical assessment to personalities as we have been doing.
Other critical areas worth considering is the escalating youth unemployment and
the resultant alcoholism that is a common sight in all corners of Thur, threats
to land ownership by vulnerable groups like widows and orphans, securing our
borders from our neighbors such as the Iteso who seem to be very determined to
extend their district boundaries deep inside Abim district, etc.
Furthermore, in order to find the much needed answers to these and other
questions that are at the heart of development (or is it lack of development?)
in our district, we need to scratch beyond the surface and have a critical
appraisal of our key development indicators and drivers.
We could consider the annual budget allocations to each of the sectors
in our district and monitor how these are implemented, quality of debates in
our district and lower local government councils, role of NGOs and other
development partners in addressing some of the
development challenges highlighted above.
We could as well do some introspection and evaluate our role as
rights/claim holders in the development of Abim district and whether we are
performing these roles.
Having done all the above, we could then brainstorm on possible
strategies for addressing the concerns raised above. Here, we could enlist the
services of Ethur technocrats in various fields to design interventions.
My dream is for ADF to be a non-partisan and objective forum that will
have oversight on both government and none governmental sectors. We could think
of organizing Thur conference under the auspices of ADF and invite key
resources persons with expertise in various fields to deliver papers that will
generate discussions.
If we all agree with these proposals, then negative political propaganda
that does not contribute to the development of Thur, but are aimed at character
assassination to further the selfish interest of some political actors should
not be entertained here at ADF, since they will not be compatible with the aims
and objectives of ADF. Such posts can find their way in other groups where they
are welcome.
This should not in any way stop us from critically evaluating the
performance of our political leaders against their constitutional mandates, as
long as this is done with concrete factual evidence and high level of
objectivity and sobriety. I expect our post here to be based on well researched
and informed points of view.
In the same vein, in reacting to all post and comments, we should remain
civil and agree to disagree where necessary, as long as the issues at hand are
compatible with the objectives of ADF. The administrators of the group should
have the privilege of moderating the discussions to ensure that it does not
deviate from the aims and objectives of ADF.
I welcome any feedback on this.
Thanks,
Christopher Ogwang
Nice piece of work.
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