Omokri, others, volunteer buses for Saturday’s election

…beneficiaries not to be subjected to party affiliation

By Chioma Obinagwam

As part of efforts to encourage Nigerians to exercise their franchise despite the rescheduled elections, Lawyer and renowned author, Bemigho Omokiri has volunteered buses heading to various routes to convey electorates to their polling units.

Confiance News gathered from Omokri’s Twitter handle, @renoomokri on Wednesday.

According to Omokiri, the #BusesForDemocracy created to facilitate the movement of Nigerians traveling outside their residence purposefully for voting at the elections irrespective of the party they are voting for.

The thread extracted from Omokri’s Twitter handle read: “I will soon release details for accessing my free #BusesForDemocracy. They are:
* Free to voters travelling for the purpose of voting
* IRRESPECTIVE of who they vote for
We are brothers and sisters born by Mother Nigeria. Democracy is my ONLY objective.”

“I give Nigerians my word. NOBODY will be a asked who they plan to vote for on my free #BusesForDemocracy. There will be NO campaigning on buses. It is intended for voters who are travelling for the purpose of voting. Country before party and candidate!,” he continued in his tweet.

Similarly, like a Clarion call, other Nigerians reacted by volunteering buses as well as accommodation and food for interested electorates who wish to travel for the purpose of the elections.

Omokiri who indicated that there are buses for those travelling from Abuja to Kano; Abuja to Enugu; Lagos to Enugu; Lagos to Kano, among other routes would leave by 5.00a.m on Thursday and return by 6.00a.m on Sunday.

“1-Logistics for #BusesForDemocracy
Lagos Departures to Enugu.
Pickup: Front of Silverbird Cinemas Galleria, VI, Lagos.
Date: Thursday, 21, February 2019.
Time: 5am
Show your PVC to gain entry. First come, first served.

“2-Logistics for #BusesForDemocracy
Lagos Departures to Kano.
Pickup: Front of Silverbird Cinemas Galleria, VI, Lagos.
Date: Thursday, 21, February 2019.
Time: 5am. Return Sunday 6AM.
Show your PVC to gain entry. First come, first served.

“3-Logistics for #BusesForDemocracy
Abuja Departures to Kano.
Pickup: Front of Silverbird Cinemas by Musa Yar’adua Center
Date: Thursday, 21, February 2019.
Time: 5am. Return Sunday 6AM

“4-Logistics for #BusesForDemocracy
Abuja Departures to Enugu
Pickup: Front of Silverbird Cinemas by Musa Yar’adua Center
Date: Thursday, 21, February 2019.
Time: 5am. Return Sunday 6AM
Show your PVC to gain entry. First come, first served
Show your PVC to gain entry. First come, first served,” Omokri disclosed in his tweets.

Omokri’s #BusesForDemocracy, amidst criticism from some quarters, have also received accolades from most Nigerians, notable among them is Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, the Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency at the National Assembly.

On saturday, February 23, Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, will be going to the polls to elect the President, Vice President and the National Assembly, which is the sixth quadrennial elections since the end of military rule in 1999.