By Sam Duvwode
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, Vito Corsica (Delta North) and Okavango (South Africa) Decks in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Delta State Directorate, has called on politicians to be gracious in defeat at the forth coming general elections.
The call was made at the weekend, when the combined associations held a Citizens’ Summit on Voter Education aimed at sensitizing the public on the need for active participation in the electioneering by all.
The campaign, which was carried out under the Pyrates’ ‘Our Votes Count (OVC)’ advocacy platform, saw the massive deployment of members on the streets sharing fliers and enlightening the public on the importance of shunning political apathy, as well as voting wisely and rejecting election violence, money and ethnic identity politics during the forthcoming general elections in Delta State.
Led by its Cap’n. Oghenekaro Ukavwe, the group walked round the streets of Asaba, Agbor,, Illah and Ogwashi-Uku sensitizing the people on voters education.
Flyers and leaflets containing vital information as it relates to the purpose and importance of participating in elections was distributed to commuters, traders and artisans, while questions were equally answered from members of the public.
Mr. Ukavwe, while advocating and charging Nigeria security agencies to conduct aerial surveillance to check crimes and aversion of post election violence, advised politicians to be gracious in defeat in the forthcoming general elections.
According to him; “I want to advised our political gladiators to shun post election violence because they are the major sponsors of it. They and their supporters should accept outcomes of every election in good faith and be gracious in defeat”. Ukavwe stated.
On the choice of Delta State, the First Mate (Vice President) of the Okavango (South Africa) Deck, Mr. Samuel Jarikre disclosed that most of the offshore /diaspora Decks of NAS were partnering with the onshore Decks in the advocacy for there to be a free, fair, transparent, credible and violence free elections in 2019.
Mr Jarikre noted that the choice of Delta State with his Deck was because, in the social media, there had been reported cases of election violence in the South-South region of the country and Delta State was in the region where the group targeted for advocacy on averting post elections violence. He added that the Citizens’ Summit on Voters Education was going on simultaneously all over the country.
In his remarks, Comrade Abel Johngold Orheruata of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), advised the electorates to save the future by using their permanent voters card (PVC) wisely.
“The future of Nigeria and our children lies in our hands. It is not just a civic responsibility but also a moral obligation for every citizen with a PVC to ensure that we elect the right leaders. This is the only way to secure a peaceful and prosperous nation for all. If you do not use your PVC wisely, our future will be in the wrong hands”. Comrade Johngold advised.