–By Albert OGRAKA:
His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien CFR, JP, the Asagba of Asaba, has lauded the activities of a frontline political pressure group in Nigeria, Delta Youth Coalition (DYC), for its proactive efforts in ensuring that persons who have attained voting age are sensitized and mobilized to elect the right people into governance.
The royal father gave this commendation at the palace when the President General of DYC, Mr. Chibuzor Agunwa (aka Mr. Dash) led members of his executive on a courtesy visit to the Asagba on Thursday, July 30, 2022 in Asaba.
The Asagba praised the feat the President General of DYC, Mr. Chibuzor Agunwa (aka Mr. Dash) has attained in ensuring that many Nigerians, especially Deltans are fully sensitized and mobilized to exercise their franchise during elections.
He urged other political pressure groups operating in the country to emulate the proactive efforts of the Delta’s Youth Coalition.
Before responding to the speech of DYC President General, the Asagba reflected how to be proactive, revealing that “Many years ago, There was ASUU strike and universities were closed for one year. I was surprised at the silence from the people and parents of students who pay school fees to allow their children to be out of the university for one year and say nothing. It does not provide the good image for this country.
I don’t think this will happen everywhere. How can parents whose children are home for one year sit back and do nothing? Y response was that this matter must be solved, so I mobilized traditional rulers all over Nigeria to meet and resolve this matter. They held meetings with the federal government in terms of their demands. The federal government refused to pay but fortunately, I was the Chancellor of the Federal University of Abeokuta and my university provided the funds for those meetings to settle the ASUU strike.
Earlier, in his opening speech, the President General of Delta Youth Coalition (DYC), Chibuzor Agunwa (aka Mr. Dash), elucidated on the aims of the group to include encouraging people at the grassroots to have their Personal Voter’s Card (PVC) in order to enthrone good governance by voting for candidates with credibility.
He recognized the fatherly role of the Asagba of Asaba in administering his royal duties, saying that his wealth of experience has contributed a lot to national growth.
While commending the incumbent Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his trailblazing traits in good governance, people oriented development projects and programs, Mr. Dash explained that DYC has been established in the 25 local government areas of Delta state to ensure that Governor Okowa’s sterling quality of good governance is replicated in the state, ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
He said that the vision of DYC was to fill the yawning gap between the leaders and the electorate by forming alignment of bringing political benefits, dividend of democracy to the grass root.
According to him, the mission of Delta Youth Coalition (DYC) is “Promoting community activities by collaborating with different organization to promote peace and harmony among citizens in the state, through joint action that will benefit the people and their communities by way of initiating programs for youth empowerment.”
