By Cmr. Wilbet Ijeoma
The Delta State Directorate of National Orientation Agency led by the State Director, Mr. Chris Anyabuine with his team paid advocacy visit to NUJ Delta State Council today 23rd February 2023 barely two day to the Presidential election in view of reaffirming their partnership in voters education, sensitization and mass mobilization towards achieving a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
The statement of purpose for the visit was made clear by NOA State Director who in the first hand thanked the NUJ Chairman, Cmr. Michael Ikeogwu for receiving him and his team, while congratulating the Chairman on behalf of the Council for the brand new and befitting Press Centre and commending him for the effort towards bringing the project to fruition.
Speaking further, the NOA Delta State Director affirmed that the purpose for the visit is in furtherance to strengthening NOA’s partnership with NUJ, while emphasizing that the mandate of NOA is to enlighten the masses on government’s activities, policies and programmes, as well as positively change attitude to achieve socio-economic benefits. “Our mandate is similar to that of NUJ”; Anyabuine affirmed, as we thanked NUJ for continued and sustained support to NOA towards achieving its mandate.
On voters education, Anyabuine emphasized the need to sensitize the masses adequately so as to know how to vote and conduct themselves before and during elections. In quick specifics, the Delta State NOA Director highlighted his message which are; Come out to vote; shun voters’ apathy, Say no to vote buying and selling, Say no to election violence, Campaign ends 24hrs to election, Do not solicit for votes at polling units and Say no to void votes.
Emphasizing on how voters should conducts themselves during election, Anyabuine said that voters are not supposed to wear vest or shirts with party symbol during election as that is in violation to the Electoral Act. Furthermore, he gave insight on how not to vote by highlighting that after thumb-printing, the ballot ought to be folded outwards and not inwards to avoid multiple impression and void vote.
Reacting to the visit, the Chairman of NUJ Delta State Council, Cmr. Michael Ikeogwu thanked the State Director and his team for the timely visits preparatory to the general elections. The Chairman reaffirmed the importance of media to electioneering processes while commending NOA for their sensitization programmes. Ikeogwu decried the state Nigerians find themselves today and charged the masses to rise and take a decision for a change. “As history beckons, we have to take responsibility to save ourselves from the quagmire we find ourselves today; we must rise as a people to take decision so as to make Nigeria rise from where we are today to where we are supposed to be”; Ikeogwu submitted while thanking NOA for the timely visits.
Others present in the event were the Secretary of NUJ Delta State Council Cmr. Patrick Ochei, Vice Chairman Cmr. Salvation Ogolo, State Auditor Cmr. Celestine Afokobah, Ex Officio Cmr. Ejime Udueme, Secretary NAWOJ Delta State Cmr. Tracy Ikolomi with members of NOA team, among others.
