Concerned Citizens for a Better Abia (CCBA), a civil society organisation, has urged the people and residents of Abia State to ensure that political structures that nurture and sustain godfatherism are totally dismantled.

The group gave the advice in a communiqué issued in Enuguon Sundayat the end of a conference entitled “Abia: The Way Forward” and organised by CCBA.

The communiqué was signed by the conference Chairman, Dr James Onyike, the Chairman of the group, Mr Dave Agwalla, the Secretary, Mr Chris Okoro, Dr Okezie Maduagwu, the Treasurer and the National Officer, Commodore Macdonald Ubah (rtd).

It advised Abia people and residents to resist any attempt to impose political leadership in the state.

“The people of the state to ensure that political structures that nurture and sustain godfatherism in Abia politics are totally dismantled,” it said.

The signatories noted that all forms of political patronage bred irresponsibility.

They stressed that the “anointing” of incompetent and less experienced political leaders must be eliminated in the state.

“Abians shall ensure that leaders who will emerge from the forthcoming election are people that have the mandate of the majority.

“Their legitimacy should be derived from the people and they will be committed to improving the living condition of the people by investing in education, healthcare and infrastructural development among others.

“All Abians must participate actively in the electoral process in order to bring about the desired change.

“We must not only register and vote during election, but ensure that our votes count.

“To this end, Abians must actively mobilise and educate the electorate on the importance of voting for credible people and not those who seek to buy our votes with money.

“Abians who are resident outside the state, are also encouraged to apply to transfer their voting rights to the state within the time frame allowed by INEC in order to be part of the mass mobilisation,” the communiqué stated.

It called for elected leaders who would devote their time and energies to creating the enabling environment to will bring about economic prosperity through job creation for the teeming youths.