By Doyin Ojosipe

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) on Friday, called on Nigerians to support the Open Government Partnership Initiative (OGP) to achieve a better society.

Uchenna Arisukwu, Programmes Coordinator of the Not-for Profit Organisation gave the charge at an OGP rally in Makurdi, Benue state.

He said the rally was part of Centre LSD’s activities under it’s ongoing project on ‘Promoting Transparency and Accountability in the implementation of the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria’.

He said the rally was meant to create awareness on the OGP and equally canvas the support of Nigerians in achieving inclusivity in governance .

Arisukwu noted that the initiative which is being sponsored by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation provides a platform for reformers inside and outside of governments around the world to develop initiatives that promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance.

“OGP is an international multi-stakeholder initiative, launched on 20th September 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers to make their governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens,” he said.

In the same vein, Ezenwa Nwaugu, Convener of the Say No Campaign charged Nigerians to show interest in the governance of their country by holding leaders accountable as that is one best way to fight corruption and partake in the dividends of democracy.

The rally was attended by youths from different groups in the region, the physically challenged community, Civil Society Organisations and Media professionals.