NOA slams critics, says will not succumb to blackmail

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned people with sinister motive against the agency to desist from secret efforts to portray it as a partisan organisation.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Assistant Press Officer of NOA, Ms Helen Onuoha and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.
“These efforts include blackmail threats, posting and erection of billboards and posters purportedly in the name of key officers of the agency and negative media,’’ the statement said.
The Director–General of NOA, Mr Mike Omeri said in the statement that it was unfortunate that when all hands should be on deck to reposition Nigeria, some people were doing otherwise.
“Some people are deliberately making false insinuations aimed at discrediting key organs and efforts of government in that regard.
“This is capable of setting back the gains of our collective efforts so far to positively reorient our people and must therefore be discouraged,’’ the statement said.
According to the statement, NOA wishes to state categorically that the position of its Director General by law, remains non-partisan and he is very conscious of that fact.
“This is evident in his rejection in writing of an appointment into a campaign committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2015 general elections,’’ it said.
According to the statement, Omeri has stated clearly that the office of NOA director general prohibits him from partisanship as stipulated by the agency’s enabling laws.
Omeri had also issued clear cut directives to all staff of the agency to remain non-partisan, the statement said.
The statement said it was in recognition of the neutrality of NOA as a mass mobiliser and civic educator that multinational organisations found confidence for partnership for voter education.
“Even after the elections, the agency had continued to attract the partnership of organisations with international repute like the German Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Foundation.
“NOA holds numerous engagements between state legislators and the electorate in various states of the federation, irrespective of the party in power in those states.
“Only recently, the British Tony Blair Faith Foundation approached NOA for partnership toward curbing intolerance among the various religions, the foundation considered NOA reliable for social orientation and peace building in Nigeria.
“This will not have been the case if these international organisations which are very sensitive about their reputations have perceived element of political or partisan bias in NOA and its leadership,’’ it said.
The statement said that NOA had continued to hold programmes promoting the policies, activities of government at all levels in spite of the variety of political colorations at the Federal and State levels.
“NOA remains focused, professional and ethical in discharging its mandate of sensitising the citizenry on the policies and progammes of government as well as reorienting Nigerians towards positive values.
“The agency will not be distracted by the antics of blackmailers and mischief makers seeking to incite government against the Agency in the lawful discharge of its mandate,’’ the statement said.