By Adadainfo
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged Southeast governors to declare work-free days to ease collection of permanent voters’ cards by residents of the region as the 2023 elections draw nearer.
Dr Alex Ogbonnia, national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze, made the call in a press statement.
Ohanaeze, in the statement, commended Gov Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State for declaring a two-day public holiday ‘to compel all the public servants in the state (and others) to obtain their PVCs.
While urging residents of the region to make good use of the extension till Sunday, January 29, 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ohanaeze expressed concerns that ‘there are thousands of permanent voters’ cards that are yet to be collected by their rightful owners’.
According to the statement, “In reality, it is the voting behaviour of the group that determines electoral outcomes at the polls. In other words, while dribbling the opponent in a football match is key, it is the number of goals scored that will ultimately count.
“It is therefore very strange that an Igbo of whatever class or creed will be reminded on the need to vote in the forthcoming general elections.
“While commending Governor Umahi for his pragmatic sensitization of the Ebonyi populace towards the forthcoming elections, Ohaneze Ndigbo calls on all the governors of Ohanaeze states to apply the Ebonyi paradigm in their respective jurisdictions.
“Similarly, the Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) led by Chief Emeka Diwe is also requested to deploy their grassroots prowess to implement a policy of “no pvc, no community rights” in all the Igbo communities across the entire Igboland.
“Emphasis is hereby made that no genuine Igbo should allow local, private or selfish interests to override the Igbo collective interests. Every Igbo should therefore realize that the PVC and voting on the election day are the sinequanon for the actualisation of the Igbo collective desideratum for 2023.”
