Chinedum Treasure
Member representing Onitsha Constituency 1 in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka has called on government to be critical over issues capable of constituting breeding ground to touting in the state and the county in general.
The lawmaker gave the advice during the annual feast of Barracuda by National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Onitsha Chapter with lecture on theme: “Eradicating Touting For A Just and Egalitarian Society”.
He warned that situations where politicians go around with touts in form of body guards should be discouraged, urging politicians to stay away from touts and miscreants during election periods.
According to Azuka, whereas government awards contracts to qualified individuals to operate parks and garages, it is not the government’s mandate to determine who the contractors will employ for their services at the parks.
“Those working for state government have shown decorum and responsible knowing their identities are with the government.
“The notorious upper iweka axis of Onitsha has been sanitized by the anti touts who knows the miscreants and they have achieved good results,” he added.
Earlier, Chapter President of the association, Engr Emeka Uwaechia regretted that activities of touts in Onitsha had become great concern to residents and visitors alike.
He said the Feast of Barracuda, held annually, is organized all over the national and international branches with Special Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2021.
He said, “National Association of Seadogs is an organization that constantly identifies the ills militating against the attainment of a just and egalitarian society and profer solutions on how to curb the ill in the society.
“Over the years, we’ve been organizing lecture series called the Feast of Barracuda Lecture (FOB).
“Barracuda is a Big Voracious Fish that thrives in the Tropical Seas. It is a very wild and dangerous fish and very difficult to be caught by fishermen.
“Whenever the barracuda is luckily caught by fishermen, there will be a great joy with celebration that marks a great achievement.
“NAS has Symbolically used the BARRACUDA to represent the ills of the Society. Every year, all Chapters (Decks) of NAS identify an ill in the society and call on revelevant stakeholders and the public to sit down in a town hall meeting to dissect and proffer solutions on how to eradicate that menace from the society.
“Few years ago, the Onitsha Chapter has held the FOB on Drug Abuse and Consequences among the Onitsha youths.
Representatives of NDLEA gave lectures on how the youths can extricate themselves from this menace.”
The Guest Speaker, Ass. Prof. Ernest Aniche, during his intellectual discuss, defined touting, activities of touts and government laws and bills with regards to touting activities.
He applauded NAS for bringing Stakeholders to address and profer solutions to the important topic.
Former House of Assembly member Onitsha Constituency 1, Hon Godwin Ejiamike described presence of touts in any society as impediment towards growth and progress of the society.
Another NAS member, Ben Agbala explained that the association has been advocating for a better society through their songs.
He emphasized that pyrates songs are never Jiration songs.
“All our songs are carefully composed to reflect on the ills of the society and we try to put a correcting proposition through our satirecal songs, ” he added.
One of the participants, Sir Emma Onyejekwe commended NAS for tackling touting menace through town hall meeting despite prevailing economic challenges.
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