BY JOSEPH BOAZ
It has been asserted that governance is a social contract between the leaders and the led, and between government and the governed.
Indeed, the social contract still holds great significance in the polity of contemporary states, as the people willingly surrender their mandate to political leaders during elections.
Consequently, while the leaders are bound by the oath of allegiance and oath of office they swear, the citizens are also bound under section twenty four of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, to respect their leaders and constituted authorities
Citizens are also expected to pledge their allegiance to the National Flag, the National Anthem, and the national Pledge.
This constitutional obligation is what a former president of the United States of America, Barrack Obama once referred to as “the mantle of citizenship”.
In essence, the mantle of citizenship places a duty on compatriots to arise and obey the call of Nigeria, to love and serve Nigeria with heart and might, and to uphold her honour and glory.
The mantle o citizenship equally requires every Nigerian to have faith in their leaders and to also be loyal to them. Unfortunately, the concept of mantle of citizenship, as an aspect of the social contract, has often been violated by many Nigerians including some people in Akwa Ibom State.
As a result of this, unguarded utterances, falsehood and blackmail of leaders have become rampant. For instance, people have misused the right to freedom of speech and expression to disparage leaders and constituted authorities on pages of newspapers.
These unwholesome practices do not only question the people’s collective conscience, but have also made nonsense of the sense of value, dignity and respect for elders which are held highly in Akwa Ibom State.
This cannot be the moral path to treat, if the wholesome development of the society must be attained.
It is for this reason that the earlier counsel by governor Udom Emmanuel that people of the state should desist from insulting and abusing their leaders is very valid.
People who sponsor hate should sheathe their swords and realize that leaders are made God; and that to be a leader, one must be a good follow. If this were done because of politics, one would then say that there is time for everything.
Also read: Stadium renovation in Akwa Ibom state excites Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria
It is gratifying that Governor Emmanuel has constantly been calling on those who have political disagreement to have a change of mind and join him in the task of building Akwa Ibom State. For, as he puts it, “there are many mansions in the Akwa Ibom Polity to accommodate everyone who is willing to genuinely and sincerely serve his father land.
This being so, citizens, while looking up to the leaders to execute their mandate for the people, must not also forget that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confers on them certain duties and obligations.
Hence, as governor Emmanuel continues to carry on with the completion Agenda, conveyors of falsehood, blackmails and unguarded utterances in Akwa Ibom must purge themselves of those tendencies and other activities when undermine the smooth execution of the social contract.
Having willingly given the mandate to Mr. Emmanuel to become the governor of Akwa Ibom State, it behooves Akwa Ibom people to rise to the task of discharging their part of the social contract by showing continued support to constituted authority.
This is what the mantle of citizenship entails.
