Anthony Obiora
The rescheduled March 18th 2023 election has been described as one thing Nigerians should hold as very important in the quest to positively change the political narratives of the country by using their votes wisely.
The Anambra State Director, National Orientation Agency(NOA),Awka,Barrister Charles Nwoji was speaking when he led members of his management team on an advocacy visit to the Leader of Hausa Community , Alhaji Garba Haruna in his palace in Awka ,as part of the third phase of the Voter Education and Sensitization programme of NOA in Anambra State.
Barrister Nwoji,who described the Hausa Community in Anambra State as very strategic segment of the Anambra State population,maintained that the Director -General of the Agency in Abuja ,Dr.Garba Abari ,directed all State Directors drawn from the thirty-six States of the Federation including Abuja to reach out to the heads of the Social,Markets and Religious Groups in the Country for them to see the reason to talk to their subjects to put behind them the alleged regrettable results of the February 25th Presidential and National Elections and come out enmass to cast their votes for their desired candidates at the polls during the forthcoming Election.
The NOA boss,emphasized that the essence of the visit was for the Agency to talk to the people and let them understand that they have the power to change the ugly situations of the country today through their votes, during the election.
He pleaded with the Seriki in Awka,Alhaji Haruna to persuade his subjects and their family members ,especially those in the different Market Associations to shun all forms of violence as they go out to cast their votes on the election day, reminding the people that they should not dream or talk of spilling another person's blood in the course of the Election.
Barrister Nwoji,who decried the huge voided votes reported in the previous Elections, called on INEC to give Nigerians nothing short of credible Election come march 18 in the Country,calling on the voters to avoid voting invalidly.
Speaking earlier,the Deputy Director Programmes,Sir Joseph Uchendu,said that the visit was in line with the duties of the Agency in communicating Government programs,activities and policies to the general public with particular reference to ensuring that the Saturday 18th March ,2023 Elections were peacefully conducted in Anambra State and Nigeria at large.
Contributing ,the Deputy - Director, Special Duties,Barrister Ifeoma Chijioke, pleaded with the Hausa Community to encourage their women and youths to partake actively in the Election by teaching them how to vote correctly at the polls.
In his response,the Leader of the Hausa Community in Awka ,Alhaji Garba Haruna,remarked that the previous Elections in Anambra State have been adjudged peaceful and violence free since the regime of late President Shehu Shagari in Country till date,assuring the NOA Director ,Barrister Nwoji that they would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that they partake actively in the forthcoming Anambra House of Assembly Election come 18th March,2023 in the State.
The team later visited Nkwo Amaenyi Market Square in the course of the Voter Education and Sensitization Campaign where the Assistant Director in the Department of Special Duties ,NOA,Awka ,Mr. Tagbo Igboka,charged the youths not to give room for anarchy to take center stage in Anambra State ,warning them that they should not see the Election as a do or die affair.