Philanthropist Ezeemo And NOA DG Omeri Seek For Better Particpation During Elections In Anambra State

                           

Odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that the financier of Charity Ezeemo Trust Foundation , Mr Godwin Ezeemo , a Non Governmental Organization assisting the poor and the less privileged partnered with the  Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri in taking awareness to the grass root in Anambra state on the need for effective electoral participation.

They urged Nigerians to be change agents and drivers for a better electoral participation in the country.

Omeri made the call in Awka during the inauguration of Anambra voter education project organised by NOA in collaboration with Charity Ezeemo Trust Foundation.

Fides, reports that the similar voter education exercise would be carried out in the 21 Local Council Areas of the state before the 2015 general elections.

“It behooves on us to collectively make our votes count to enable us effect the required behavioral and attitudinal change in the society,” Omeri said.

Omeri emphasized that the power of one vote was the potent solution or magic to the problem of governance, corruption and all forms of ills and indiscipline by political office holders.

Represented by the Delta state Director of the agency, Mr Isaac Ezeji, Omeri said that voting was a civic responsibility off all eligible Nigerians.

The Director-General noted that the Federal Government had re-introduced civic education in the school curriculum to impact the requisite knowledge into young school children.

In a remark, sponsor of the programme and former governorship candidate of PPA in the state, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, said voter education remain vitally important as long as Nigeria practices democracy.

 “These can only be achieved when the people are fully aware and armed with the power of the vote and when the processes leading to the exercise are transparent.

“We deny ourselves the great power we have in a democracy to improve our lives, bring about change and affect policies, if we don’t partake in election processes,” Ezeemo said.

He said that the collaboration was aimed at providing a peaceful and fair method by which the citizens elect their leaders and have meaningful role in determining their own destiny.

The chairman of the occasion and pro-chancellor Anambra State University, Uli, Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, said that voter education was the most critical of all election processes.

He stressed the need to promote proportional representation where politicians to always engage in consultative governance.

While calling for true federalism in the country, the chairman urged governments to partner NOA in the sensitization of electorate.

He also urged NOA to continue to push for removal of the agency from the Ministry of Culture to the presidency.

Declaring the sensitization project open, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra expressed worry over the increasing voter apathy being witnessed in the state.

According to him, out of an estimated 1.7 million voters in the state, only about 400, 000 voters participate in election processes.

The governor, who was represented by the state commissioner for special duties, Mr Nobert Obi, stressed the need for attitudinal change which should begin with the 2015 general elections in the state.

He charged electorate in the state to turn out en mass to vote in 2015 and commended the organizers of the programme.

In a lecture titled “Voter Education: A new thrust in election management in Nigeria,” INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Chuwkuemeka Onukaogu, assured that the commission would remain credible election umpire.

He said that the commission had developed a new voter education programme and was willing to collaborate with government and stakeholders in building confidence in the entire electoral process.

Onukaogu said that the commission would on July 18 commence distribution of permanent voters’ card in the state.

He advised those whose names did not appear in the register to report to the office for possible re-registration, adding that a continuous voter registration exercise will follow the distribution.