Edo 2024 governorship election: Edo Man O' War unveil political culture of non-violence sensitization campaign

As part of effort in ensuring peace and non-violence in the forthcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo State, the Edo State Command of Man O'War Nigeria has unveiled a political culture of non-violence public sensitization campaign.

The campaign was unveiled during the 2024 State Commanders Retreat and Workshop held in Benin City. 

Unveiling the political culture of non-violence public sensitization campaign for Edo 2024 Gubernatorial Election, the Edo State Commandant- Amb. Odunze C. Eberechukwu said the intention was to sensitize citizens, aspirants and political parties on the need to embrace peace before, during and after the 2024 Edo governorship elections.

Amb. Odunze C. Eberechukwu, AISLT, DSM, FTSA

"We want to see how we can sensitize these politicians and political parties that even as they go about their political aspirations, there is need to eschew violence and embrace peace. The Edo 2024 governorship elections should be a thing that other states should emulate. They should be able to set a standard for other states when it comes to electoral processes.

"The citizens need to know that a lot of the the atrocities that took place during elections were committed by the citizens, particularly young persons, and not the politicians themselves majority of whom have their families resident in overseas countries. 

"This campaign of political culture of non-violence is also intended to avert political apathy in Edo State. This is because past experiences show a situation where a lot of persons came out to vote and for one reason or the other, who they anticipated to win did not emerge, thereby feeling discouraged. We want them to know that at times you win and at times you lose.

"We intend to engage the various religious bodies, political parties, market women, youths in the street, student's groups, media houses, etc", he said.

While delivering a presentation, the Deputy State Commandant Training, Operations and Rescue- DMC Onoha Uchena Kelly highlighted the importance of Commanders and members training in the discharge of their duties. According to him, one cannot embark on a journey he or she don't know about, hence the need for training and retraining.

"Training can be both technical and vocational. The technical training include First Aid, Fire Fighting, Compass Work, Foot Tracking. While the vocational training include Agriculture, Piggery, Fisheries, Carpentary, Sewing, Tie and Dye, etc.

"You are also obligated to involve in social engagement activities such as trafic control, crowd control, environmental sanitation, etc", he said.

Presenting a paper on Leadership, the Deputy State Commandant Administration and Logistics- DMC Ernest Abebe defined leadership as the way a leader directs, coordinates, and pilot the affairs of an organisation in achieving the organisational goal(s).

Speaking about the qualities of a leader, DMC Abebe said a leader "must be accountable, courageous, honest, reliable, determined, humble, Intelligent/neat, tolerance, discipline, foresight, exemplary, loyal, God-fearing, resourceful, etc".

SEDI brands audit 2024 reveals Cocacola and Pepsi as top plastic polluters in Nigeria

... Calls on the Managements to reduce and redesign their plastic cans

By Isaac Eranga, PAMHSE

The Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) has called on the managements of  Cocacola and Pepsi to reveal, reduce and redesign their plastic cans as part of their extended producer responsibility and catalyzing zero waste initiatives. This to SEDI, would largely help to reduce plastics in Nigeria and its deleterious effect on human health and environment.

This call was contained in a press statement released by SEDI's Communication department following the organisation's 2024 plastic brand audit exercise carried out in January, 2024.

According to the statement, "plastics were collected out door in an estate of 1000 hectares of land housing offices, houses, religious houses (Churches and mosques), schools and commercial centres. The volunteers were recruited and trained by SEDI staff following BFFP training guide. Training videos were  utilized and emphasis was laid on health and safety in the plastic collection process. 

"Detailed planning and coordination meetings were held. During the designated period, volunteers  collected plastics which were later sorted and counted. Photographs were taken and proceedings of the event were recorded for social media and the press.

"The objective of the plastic brand audit was to reveal the top polluting companies trashing our communities with their single-use plastic waste.

"The most common plastic items were: plastic PET bottles and bottle caps. The most common types of plastic were: PET and HDPE. The top polluting companies, whose brands were found on the most plastic waste, were: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Suntory Beverage and foods, and CWAY Foods and Beverages. The plastic brand audit found Cocacola and Pepsi to be the top plastic polluters in the exercise", the statement posited.