YJSM WILL ENSURE GOOD GOVERNANCE —FASINDOR
By Gbubemi Ejoh-Etishla
Lady Joy Fasindor is a very enterprising young woman. Her carriage oozes dignity; she walks like she is a security agent, a no-nonsense lady. She knows what she wants and goes for it.
From the interview below, no one would be left in doubt as to her capability to handle the position of woman leader of the Delta state chapter of the non-partisan Yar’Adua/ Jonathan Success Movement (YJSM), which aims to promote the seven-point agenda of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration, nationally and in the same vein sensitise Deltans to give similar support to the Delta State government’s three-point agenda and other issues.

May we know who you are, your background?
I am Lady Joy Fasindor; I am a civil servant. I have Diploma in Law. At present, I am running a Law Degree programme with the National Open University, Awka centre.

You are known as a woman leader of a group, can you tell us the name of this group?
I am the state woman leader of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Success Movement. The focal point of the group is to give credence to good governance and to ensure transparency in the three tiers of government and of course, to criticize, when necessary.

Can we know when the movement was inaugurated?
Nationally, the Movement was inaugurated on May 30, 2007, and the Delta State chapter on February 13, 2008 at Nelrose Holel, Asaba.
The reason for establishing the YJSM is to foster and support the seven-point agenda of the Yar’Adua administration; take the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

Who are the members of the movement?
Like I would rightly say, the establishment of the movement came as a result of a group of public-spirited Nigerians from all walks of life. They include civil servants, businessmen/ women and public servants.
The National Co-ordinator of the Movement is Engineer Mohamed Hasheed Ajanah with a Board of Trustees chaired by Dr. Joseph Wayas, former Senate President.

Is the movement, an offshoot of the PDP?
The Movement is not partisan; it is an NGO with political undertones.
For now, I am the state woman leader of the movement (YJSM ) and we have a 14-menber executive committee. These are the state coordinator, Hon. David Akpobasa; state secretary, publicity secretary, contact/ mobilization secretary, organising secretary, organizing secretary, welfare officer (state), woman leader (state), youth leader (state), legal adviser (state), Liaison officer (state), financial secretary and the treasurer.
The coordinator is the head of the movement in Delta State.

What activities have the movement embarked on nationally and in the state?      
The movement, nationally, has embarked on some programmes like the sensitization of individuals on their role in community policing, that is, making people know who they are, that they are police men/women themselves, that they should give information to the police for security purposes, they should work with the police. We sensitize people on their felt needs.

Does the movement just sensitize the people or does it provide these facilities?
We are actually waiting for a particular time when we would bring out our programmes in a dynamic way so that people would profit from these provisions. It has to be properly packaged, nationally and state-wise.
But now, what we are concentrating on is to preach the good governance of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration and we encourage people to support and see to the success of this administration so that they can benefit from it.

How does the movement demonstrate how the people can give their support to government?
We do this by organizing workshops, and seminars to sensitize them.

Has the movement reached out to the state government?
We have reached out to the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, informing him of the movement’s programmes and aims. We informed him that as we work with the seven-point agenda of the Yar’Adua/ Jonathan administration, we will also integrate the state government’s three-point agenda, so we can bring the dividends to the grassroots.

Has the state government and Deltans responded positively to the movement?
The response of the state governor has been encouraging. Like he told us before the inauguration of the YJSM that he and the president are one as they have one focus; that they will work with us and will ensure that our aims are achieved.

How does the movement publicize its activities?
We go on TV and radio, through newspaper publications, seminars and workshops. That is how we get information to the grassroots people.

Who finances the movement?
For now, sponsorship is entirely an internal responsibility. We have extended partnership to nationally-based NGOs and foundations like La-sha Foundation in Dubai in the United Arab Emirate.
Actually, the Lasha Foundation was founded by a woman, Hajia Aisha Lawal and they are into sponsorship of people-oriented projects-like water and health schemes.
We are working on these schemes, so we are partnering with them and asking them for support.

Who takes the decisions which affect the state chapters of YJSM?
Decision taking follows this pattern: from the national, zonal, state, to the local government exco.
The federation is divided into six geo-political zones; South-South, South-West; South-East, North Central, North-East and the Middle Belt.
In each geo-political zone, we have a zonal co-ordinator that oversees the state and local governments under it.

Are the chapters in the local governments in place?
Right now, no, but the chapters would be inaugurated; we are working towards inaugurating the LG chapters of the YJSM.

How would the movement go about correcting the ills of governance?
Our duty is to criticize any illegal act of any government in power and we do this through constructive criticism. For instance, we would rise up against wicked policies and of course, those who would resist change, in such cases, we would seek redress from the courts.