The Director General National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari has charged Nigerians to shun election violence and thuggery, to move the country forward.
Dr. Abari, made the call during a media dialogue, to present report on the agency’s interventions in the presidential and national assembly elections, held in Kano.
According to him, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), had organized political parties summit on peace building, media engagements on sensitive reporting, as well as advocacy visits to traditional and religious leaders, to ensure a violent free election.
He noted that, over the years NOA has acquired a reputation for grassroots enlightenment, and mobilization structure for voter education.
The director general pointed out that, community mobilization officers across 774 local government areas in the country visited markets, motor parks, traditional rulers palace, and religious worship centres, to enlighten them, on the need for violent free election.
He stressed that, the messages were targeted at massive voter registration, peaceful election, inclusion of women and people with special needs, PVCs collection, new electoral act, electoral anti-corruption and removing voter apathy.
Dr. Garba Abari highlighted that, jingles were sent out to traditional institutions, religious leaders, pressure groups and all relevant stakeholders to prevail on them to advocate for peaceful election.
“Am calling on patriots, elder statesmen, and women to rise up and be counted, we must all be sensitive and careful about our utterances”.
Dr. Garba Abari maintained that the NOA, had invented a whistle blowing platform in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to expose electoral corruption, in addition to sensitization campaign against vote buying and selling, through social media platforms.
He stressed that, the 2023 presidential election and national assembly election was characterized by delayed commencement of voting, and late arrival of election materials across some polling units.
The director general, described journalists as partners in progress, saying that, frequent engagements with the media would promote democracy by educating the public on how to vote and avoid apathy.
“Am appealing to you not to relent in serving our dear country”
The media dialogue was attended by the chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano chapter Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, Chairman Kano Correspondent Chapel, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba Shua’ibu , as well as journalists from broadcast, print and online media.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
