By Patrick Ochei
The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Thursday 23rd February, 2023, played host to an advocacy team of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who paid a courtesy visit on the Council Executive at the Press Centre, located along Maryam Babangida Way, Asaba.
Revealing the mission of their visit in his speech, the substantive NOA State Director, Mr. Uche Anyabuine said, they were at the Press Centre to interface with the leadership of the Union in the State on the Voter Education for 2023 Election.
Introducing members of the NOA management team with him and affirming that the NUJ and NOA are on the same stream of patriotic duty, he congratulated the Ikeogwu led exco for the brand new Secretariat handed over to them by the State Government.
Anyabuine acknowledged that the mission of NOA in visiting the NUJ, is in furtherance of the partnership and synergy that have existed between them in terms of collaborating together to disseminate information for public good.
His words, “Our job is to enlighten members of the public on issues that are of benefit to them and for the general development of society.
“The Voter Education campaign started over a year ago; and even though the election is close to call, the need to continue to enlighten our people now is of paramount importance.
“We have come to urge Deltans through NUJ, not to be discouraged and not to fret, but to come out en masse to vote candidates of their choice”, he submitted.
He however, stated that the Agency had strategically planned their campaign and enlightenment message in the following ways to members of the public:
- Come out to vote, shun Voter Apathy
- Say no to vote buying and selling
- Say no to election violence
- Campaign ends 24 hours to election
- Do not solicit for votes at the polling units
- Say no to void votes
Speaking further, the Director solicited the assistance of the fourth estate of the realm in publicising the campaigns for the good of society, promising to do all within the scope and frame of operation of NOA, to ensure that Deltans get the message that would spur them into making the right decisions in the elections.
The NUJ Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu was pleased that the National Orientation Agency is living up to its bidding in Delta State, thereby thanking the management team of the Agency for deeming it necessary to recognise the critical importance of the media, and the need to visit the NUJ as partners in progress.
Ikeogwu affirmed that the place of the media in societal development cannot be overemphasised, maintaining that the media has huge role to play in the coming election.
He called on Deltans to come out in their numbers to participate in the election, while also advising them to conduct themselves in the best manner that would not pitch them against the security agencies
He said, “We must not pay with blood to get it right in Nigeria. This is the time to change the narrative by going out peacefully to vote the right people into power. I am calling on every eligible voter in Delta State, to rise this time to make the decision that will change our story as a people.
“Going by the key issues raised in your message of advocacy, there is no reason why Nigerians should not make history with this election. It has to be free, fair, credible and acceptable by all standards based on how far we have gone to improve on the processes.
“As the watchdog of the society, we will do our best to promote the unity of our country by informing the public appropriately and factually. We all have a stake to the unity of this country as a people and, that will influence our decision to be responsible in our media approaches and agenda setting privileges”, Ikeogwu posited.
The highpoint was the handing over of some campaign fliers to the NUJ Chairman, to be distributed to journalists and other Deltans patronising the press centre.
