August 23, (THEWILL) – The National Association of Seadogs, also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, has unveiled its humanitarian advocacy plan for August 2024 to July 2025 with renewed partnership with civil society groups and non-governmental organisations in the campaign against prison congestion, increase in youth addiction to illicit drugs and cult activities in Bayelsa State.
NAS, through the Ox-Bow Marine Deck, said the renewed partnership with civil society groups such as the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the umbrella body of over 40 NGOs active in Bayelsa State, the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF), as well as the media, will ensure wider reach of the new calendar year campaign on human rights advocacy.
The Capoon/Leader of the Ox-Bow Marine Deck of the association, Engr. Timothy Egbonoje, during a chat with Journalists and members of civil society groups, pointed out that the idea of setting up the confraternity was to correct some of the anomalies in society.
“Our aim and objective is to correct the ill in the society where necessary. We also try as much as possible to correct the discriminatory anomalies in our society.
“We are not violent nor do we coerce people into our fold. We intend to partner with the media and CSO to correct the mindset of the populace about our members and our activities and we believe in peaceful dialogue,” he said.
Egbonoje said part of their activities include medical outreach, seminars, sensitization, counselling programmes in schools, and health awareness for the girl child among others, adding that they also collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yearly to sensitise youths on the danger of drug abuse.
“We are also planning to collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association to fasten the process of justice due to undue delay in the dispensation of justice. We believe in the protection of citizens’ rights.
“Every year, we take it upon ourselves to carry out medical missions in all the three senatorial districts in Bayelsa and other engagements,” he stated.
He said the association is open to every member of the public, adding: “We are not into any secret thing or evil agenda.”
On the campaigns against cultism in schools, Egbonoje said despite notable achievements recorded in secondary schools in Bayelsa State, “we don’t take campaigns to campuses to avoid our intention being misconstrued”.
He said the past calendar year has been fulfilling for the NAS, Ox-Bow Lake Marino with medical missions, blood donations at the Federal Medical Centre, anti-drug abuse campaign, seminars, counselling programmes in schools and health awareness campaign for the girl child.
He, however, assured media practitioners of the intention of the NAS to offer comments on state and national socio-economic issues as at when due, saying: “We will consult with organisations, sample the pulse of the state and the nation and ensure our comment is constructive. One thing we bring to the table is the reach within and outside Bayelsa State.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the CLO in Bayelsa State, Comrade David West, welcomed the proposed new partnership with the leadership of NAS in the state, declaring that with the hands of fellowship from NAS, the protection of human rights and justice is assured.
Comrade Tari Boco of the BANGOF also expressed confidence in the successes of the proposed partnership with NAS and suggested the leadership of the OX-Bow Marino Deck furnish the NGOs with its proposed plans.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
