The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has commended the governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi, for declaring a two-day public holiday to enable the people of the state collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) in readiness to cast their votes.
Ohanaeze, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, noted that Umahi did well by declaring the public holiday to enable the people of the state, especially the public servants obtain their PVCs.
The organisation pointed out that it was necessary for people to utilise the extension given by INEC to the public to obtain the PVCs before the 29th of January, 2023 deadline.
The statement read: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide commends Engr. Dave Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi state and the Chairman of South East Governors Forum, over his decision to declare a two day public holiday to compel all the public servants in the state to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).
“This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended the collection of PVC till Sunday, January 29, 2023.
“Ohanaeze expresses concern that there are thousands of permanent voters’ cards that are yet to be collected by their rightful owners.
“To this end, Ohanaeze draws a distinction between robust campaigns and social media activism on one side and voting during an election on the other.
“While the modern campaigns cannot be de-linked with the internet, in what some call technological determinism, that is, the thinking in some quarters that the internet drive the historical, economic, political and cultural changes, in reality, it is the voting behaviour of the group that determines electoral outcome 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.”
