The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, has appealed to wealthy Nigerians and public-spirited individuals to assist in ameliorating the current economic challenges confronting the underprivileged in society.
NAS Capoon, Rainbow Deck Anchor Point, Mr Ejiro Eyanasah, made the plea in Effurun, Delta State, during the Deck’s 2023 Annual Feast of Barracuda/Public Lecture.
The Public Lectures titled “The Development of Our Electoral Laws and INEC: Their Impacts on the Electoral System” and “Fuel Subsidy in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges, and the Way Forward” were delivered by a Constitutional lawyer, Akpo Mudiaga Odje, and Prof. Mano-Ben Okpevra, a lecturer at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.
Mr Eyanasah stressed that the annual Feast of Barracuda was a day-long event set aside for members to interact with non-members of the larger society, discuss issues militating against nationhood, and propose solutions to national issues in order to achieve an egalitarian society.
“The idea of the Feast of Barracuda is to address issues affecting our society for the overall betterment of our dear country.
“It is what we do annually to bring non-members for interaction. This celebration is done not only here but across the world,” he disclosed.
According to him, during the symbolic cutting of the Barracuda fish, members and non-members usually drop a token deployed for different people-oriented projects that lessen the pain of the underprivileged.
In his keynote address and lecture titled, “The Development of Our Electoral Laws and INEC: Their Impacts on the Electoral System,” Akpo Mudiaga Odje, a Constitutional lawyer, faulted the Supreme Court’s ruling, which nullified the inadmissibility of INEC’s portal as evidence in court, which was amended for transparency in Section 62 of the Electoral Act.
Mudiaga-Odje lamented that despite all the troubles the country went through to ensure that the nation had credible elections by using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine, the Supreme Court has taken the country backwards by saying that it’s only manual results that will determine any election dispute in Nigeria.
“On the issue of double nomination, the Supreme Court decided, in the case between APC and PDP, that it is not the business of an opposition party to challenge the nomination process of another party,” he stated, warning that unless the electoral laws in Nigeria are amended to favour the weak, Nigeria will continue to grope in the dark.
Dr. Mudiaga-Odje, however, averred that the allegation of certificate forgery against President Bola Tinubu will not hold water because the university has not denied issuing him the certificate and the alleged real owner of the certificate is nowhere to be found.
He also noted that the Electoral Law has not been able to solve the issue of rigging because, according to him, rigging is done even before the real election takes place, adding that there is no court in Nigeria that tries electoral offenders.
The constitutional lawyer also accused INEC of not carrying out proper delineation of wards, which, he alleged, is done in favour of the North.
Also speaking, the guest speaker, Prof. Mano-Ben Okpevra, in his lecture titled, “Fuel Subsidy in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges, and the Way Forward,” said the issue of fuel subsidy in Nigeria was complex and multifaceted and, therefore, required a careful analysis and well-thought-out solutions.
He urged Nigerians to actively engage in discussions and contribute to finding sustainable solutions for the country’s energy sector.
Earlier, Chief Sonny Daboner, Chairman of the occasion, urged all participants to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country with a view to proposing solutions to the nagging problems.
Chief Andy Asowata, a discussant, lamented that Nigeria, being a federated country, has placed too much power on the central government, noting that until power is devolved to the federating units, the minority will continue to be oppressed.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the “Barracuda Fish” by the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Sonny Daboner, as participants feasted on it with utmost delight while making donations towards putting in place people-oriented projects.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
VIDEO: Alema of Warri buys customised 2023 Maybach for wife, Natasha
Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, in Delta, has bought a new vehicle worth millions of…
Call on God to kill me if … — Pastor Adeboye
Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has said to call on God to kill him if…
Military rejects requests to topple Tinubu’s Government — DHQ
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, AFN, has rejected requests by Coup instigators to topple the democratically elected Government of…
Petrol pump price may jump to N750/litre — IPMAN
The association’s national spokesperson, Mr. Chinedu Ukadike gave the hint while speaking to…
#BBNaijaAllstars: Food crisis looms as housemates lose weekly wager
Big Brother Naija All stars Housemates have lost the first Wager task, which means for the next week, there will be…
Heavyweight bout: Anthony Joshua knocks out Robert Helenius in seventh round
Robert Helenius was defeated by Anthony Joshua at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday after..
