By Hope James, Gloria Ogbu
The National Youth Service Corps,(NYSC), Ekiti State has charged security officials and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lives and properties of corps members are made a priority during the 2023 general elections.
This was made known at a lecture delivered at the 2022 PRESS WEEK organized by the NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS (NUJ), EKITI STATE COUNCIL titled, “2023 ELECTIONS; BEYOND RELIGION; ETHNICITY– THE PLACE OF THE MEDIA”
The state Coordinator, Mrs. Mary Nenna Chikezie, who was represented by the state PRO, Mr. Odunsi Babatunde, stated that the corps members are apolitical in every ramification and would be deployed as political umpires in the forthcoming 2023 general elections therefore their protection should be paramount.
She also charged the NUJ Ekiti State Council to publicize the NYSC Trust Fund, noting that the Trust Fund would go a long way in providing a sustainable source of funds for the NYSC, skill acquisition, training, and empowerment of Corps members; and for other related matters.
Similarly, the Guest Speaker, The Rector, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Engr. Dr. Dayo Hephzibah Oladebeye noted that the success of the 2023 General Elections is everybody’s business and encouraged the media to look beyond religion and ethnic bigotry and work together for the overall interest of the citizens and a better Nigeria.
“The masses should be educated to vote based on the competence of the candidates contesting at all levels rather than being sentimental based on religion and ethnicity,” he said.
Media organisations were also admonished not to place undue limitations on election coverage for the sake of openness and transparency; to also provide safety for journalists and; ensure proper logistics before, during, and after the elections.
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