Non governmental organization (NGO), Stand Up for Women Society, has lent its voice towards sensitization and mobilization of the masses on essence of registration and obtaining their permanent voters cards (PVC). Mayor of Yenagoa Local Government, Hon Nimizuo Uroupaye and other stakeholders joined the campaign in a road walk to Swali Ultra Modern Market.
It is part of its contribution towards good governance. SWS embarked on the sensitization and organized a road walk to the Swali Ultra Modern Market to educate traders on the essence of having their PVC that would enable them vote for credible candidates as their votes must count during the next general elections.
The group averred that it is time to stay aloof and watch all kinds of persons getting into government due to voters apathy ,at the end when wrong persons get to power, the results have been bad governance and the masses live in squalor and abject poverty.
Speaking during the event , the Mayor of Yenagoa Local Government area , Hon Nimizuo Uroupaye posited that he is in total support of the Stand up for women ( SWS ) Sensitization Walk on Registration, Collections of PVCs and urge other groups to emulate them.
He also commended the efforts of the Standup for Women Society (SWS) for embarking on sensitization walk on operation show your permanent voters cards (PVC) in Yenagoa and Urged them to take the message to other markets.
The Mayor while commending them said the sensitization walk is a welcome development to Yenagoa local government and indeed BAYELSA state.
Uroupaye made the commendation during a sensitization walk organised by the Standup for Women Society of Nigeria BAYELSA state chapter in mobilizing and educating the masses especially the market women on Registration and Collection of their PVCs for the forthcoming general elections.
According to him, “many times women felt that elections is only for the men, but today this group (SWS) has come out openly to Standup for the women. I supported them because I felt it’s a good thing. I always support good things”.
“Today a lot of women are doing better than so many men because many women have gotten the orientation that they are not meant for the kitchen alone. So I love the programme which is also is organised by women.”
He said so many people don’t even go to INEC to register and those that have done some do not bothered to go and collect their voters cards thinking that good leaders is by selection and so they stay away from participating which is not good for our polity.
He also reiterated that his doors are open to collaboration and partnership with any group with genuine intention towards good governance, peace and security in the state .
“In this exercise today, I am the most beneficiary as the Mayor of Yenagoa Local government than other chairmen. So, I joined them to make sure the sensitization walk is successful. I salute their courage and the SWS have to come to stay.
For them coming out to sensitize our people to go and register and collect their PVC is a good thing to BAYELSA and mostly Yenagoa Local government. So many people are just in all the various markets across the state not knowing that having their PVC will make them to vote for good governance that will develop the market and improve on their businesses. So I will continue to support the women for the sensitization activities”.
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Also speaking, the Head of Voters Education Independent National Electoral Commission, Wilfred Ifogah, applauded the SWS for carrying out the sensitization walk, Saying INEC cannot do it alone.
Ifogah said INEC need more organisation like SWS to join in sensitizing the people especially at the grassroot where their activities will impact directly to the communities especially the women.
” The commission has extended the registration date to the 31st of July this Month and also the working hours of the staff from 9am to 3 pm before to 9am to 5pm to enable everyone that have not registered to do so and for those that have registered to go and collect their permanent voters cards”.
In her speech, the convener of the sensitization walk and the chairperson of Standup for Women Society in Nigeria Bayelsa state branch, Liberator Eunice Nnachi, said the essence of the excercise is to ensure women go out and register and collect their PVCs, that will enable them partake during the elections.
“Without your PVCs you will not be able to vote and get good leaders that will lead you. Don’t say your vote doesn’t count. Your votes will count this time around just like what happened in the just concluded Osun state elections where Peoples vote counts”.
“Go and get your PVC so that together we can put end to bad governance and collectively votes for a good leaders that lead us and our children. We are tired of hunger, poverty, killings and other devilish things that have bedevil this country as a result of bad leadership”.
On her part, the zonal coordinator of South South for Standup for Women Society, Mrs Timinipre Idoko said, the essence of the excercise is to educate the women on the need to get their permanent voters cards.
“We are saying that the women have the right to vote and be voted for and we should not think because we are women we do not have a role to play in governance. We should come out and get our PVCs so that we can collectively cast our votes for credible candidates that will represent us”.
In her solidarity message, the chairman of Gender Response Initiative Team ( GRIT) Barr. Dise Ogbise, said the sensitization walk is symbolic because the SWS has made a loud statement by talking to Bayelsans the need for them to come out and register and get their PVCs to elect credible candidates of their choice and correct the errenous impression that a sitting president or governor cannot be defeated ,but sensitization towards obtaining of PVCs, that impression was proven wrong recently during the Osun governorship election where an incumbent was defeated.”
The PVCs is the people,s power that enable to vote credible persons into power”
The PVCs is the voice of the people to determine good governance whosoever they want at the local government, state and Federal levels.
“It’s also symbolic because other stakeholders also joined in the SWS symbolic walk. We are happy with them because this will create a lot of awareness to the people especially the women. We are happy that in the forthcoming elections, we will have a lot of women that will be coming out to vote”.
Also speaking a woman representative of Ohaneze in Bayelsa state, Ms Ijeoma Ikedozie said she was there to represent the Ohaneze women and inform the women that those that have not registered should go and register and obtain their permanent Voters Cards to enable them vote during the general elections.
She said to change the narrative , the efforts of the SWS needs to be complimented and that is why the Ohaneze is involved due to our numerical strength in the market.
The sensitization walk which took -off from Independent National Electoral Commission head office in Yenagoa was terminated at the state popular Swali ultra modern market, popularly known as Swali market where hand bills were distributed throughout the length and breath of the market.
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