The OurMumuDonDo Movement understands that one of the gravest challenges of entrenching democracy in Nigeria is the lack of effective engagement of the citizens in the electoral process. This lack of engagement results in lack of real accountability, corruption, poor governance, and the general failure of political leadership.

The movement also recognizes the expediency of salvaging Nigeria from these intractable challenges and decades of oppression and executive misrule in governance. It is shameful enough that after fifty-eight years of independence from the British colonial masters, Nigeria is still struggling to establish basic social amenities for the common people.

We understand that the future of Nigeria is presently hanging in the balance owing to the many years of misrule in the country. The collective wealth of the people has been greedily squandered by the oppressive few, and corruption in governance has been normalized to become something cool. Without any iota of doubt, we are living in a malfunctioning society.

In this malfunctioning society, there is a widespread disconnection between the people and the leadership, and pervasive absence of good and accountable governance, which is contrary to the will of the common man. What’s more, corruption thrives, and poverty is endemic in a society where there is no mutually beneficial contract or agreement between the people and the political class for evaluating the performances of those in leadership positions.

It is in view of the foregoing and the group’s vehement interest in bringing about a social change that benefits the common man that we have decided to commence a national reawakening project titled: The Nigerian Social Contract Initiative (NSCI).

The NSCI project is fundamentally premised on the socio-political urgency to significantly improve citizens engagement in the democratic process, as well as create a viable tool to demand a pro-people, transparent, and accountable democracy. The Social Contract gives greater latitude for a preventive approach to fighting corruption, especially when the people are actively involved at the national and sub-national levels of government, before, during, and after elections. The social contract provides a tool for holding government accountable and a framework for the common people and the leaders of the state to negotiate for social change and political stability.

The purpose of this project, the first of its kind in our great country, is for the common man to first understand the concept and basis of a social contract as a necessary pact between the people and the political class, to demand a greater access to government through transparent and accountable leadership, prevent and curb corruption by getting involved in the democratic process, and participate by performing his or her civic duties.

This intervention will establish a give-and-take approach that will promote open government and bring value and satisfaction to both the electorates and those seeking to get their votes, before, during, and after elections.

Through this campaign, the OurMumuDonDo Movement seeks to ramp up citizens engagement in the democratic process and also discourage the shameful and unenviable tradition of politics as a pecuniary transaction, where the electorates are induced by the political class.

Ultimately, this intervention will focus on inclusive participation in democratic governance, returning power to the rightful owners (the people), discouraging the trading of votes during elections, and encouraging the culture of holding leaders accountable.

Our Mumu Don Do!

SIGNED:

Adebayo Raphael
National Secretary OurMumuDonDo Movement

Deji Adeyanju
FOR: Concerned Nigerians

Ariyo Dare Atoye
For: Coalition in Defence Of Nigerian Democracy

Bako Abdul Usman
For: Campaign For Democracy

Moses Paul
FOR: MAD Connect