By Brave Dickson
National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Rivers State says it would sensitize secondary school students in the state through film show, so as to make them shun any form of election malpractice in 2023.
The state Director of NOA, Barr Young Ayotamuno who made this known in a chat with our correspondent said the film is titled: “The Fourth Republic,” adding that his agency would procure more CDs of the film to enable its availability for secondary school students across the state to watch.
He said: “What NOA has done between the last election and now is to partner with some groups and institutions to come up with a film show that is titled; “The Fourth Republic.” This film encapsulates every narrative about our elections.
“So, NOA will do the best it can to get the CDs of that film and also circulate it. The feeling is that what you watch, you hardly forget. We are engaging the citizenry for the next election and not to wait till election period then we begin to run around.
“Now talking about the next election, the National Orientation Agency usually has a long period of preparation. We normally look at different age grades. We have intensified our enlightenment in schools, particularly at the senior secondary level. Don’t forget that most of those who are in JSS3 will mature to 18years by that 2023. Those are the same people we also expect to add to the crop of persons that already have their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
“We are also using this time to encourage those who have registered but have not collected their PVCs to use now and pick their PVCs and not to always wait for election period. You know that there are two states where elections will take place next week and NOA is at the forefront.
“So, we have economic and political programmes that are lined up to engage the citizens toward making sure that the narrative of vote buying and improper voting is taking care of.
“Everything that we are doing is to enhance accountability. We have to start enlightening them and show them areas where they can get subsidized services and improve their lives. Currently, we are concentrating on areas that have to do with economics by encouraging the patronisation of made in Nigerian goods so that the economy can also be expanded.
“We have always told citizens to respect the rule of law. What we have found in the last dispensations is that people are selective in the acceptance of court verdict. And we have always tried our best to let them accept because it is not all the time it will come in your favour.
“The judges, most times deliver their judgement based on evidence before them” .
