Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians to ensure they get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote anyone of their choice devoid of religious or ethnic sentiments.
President Buhari spoke at the breaking of fast with members of the judiciary led by Justice Okukayode Ariwoola, Justice of the Supreme Court, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President, who attributed his victory at the 2015 polls to technology, urged the governors not to relent in voters’ education of their people.
President Buhari, while responding to remarks by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, on behalf of members of the judiciary, said before now, votes did not count as results were pre-written, but that with the Permanent Voter Cards, Nigerians can now vote in who they want.
Said he, “I find it necessary to invite you because I don’t normally see you.
“I have to repeat what I said having heard what you said. I mentioned that when I was in the military and much younger, we believed things were going wrong and so when I came, I took from the president downwards to Kirikiri against your advice and told them that they were guilty until they proved themselves innocent.
“But we proceeded to have various tribunals to investigate and I can still remember some extremely good and fantastic Nigerians. They are few in the society and that is why we don’t see the impact of fantastic people we have.
“I decided to put agbada and come back. I tried three times and then fourth time I eventually made it. Thanks to God and thanks to technology because this Permanent Voter Cards and card readers are fantastic. Those who went to their polling booths in their constituencies and voted, their votes counted.
“Before, votes were disregarded and results written and there was nothing you can do before the justices to proof your case. But now with technology it has been made easy. That is why I keep appealing to the governors to embark on voters’ education, to please tell the people that their voters card is their national card so to speak.
“Let them vote for anybody they want across ethnicity and religion and impose their decisions on them. I think that is why I am calling on and I am begging the governors to please continue with voters education so that people will take their permanent voters card seriously and make sure that they don’t loose it.
“I am bothering you with this because you are in a position of influence and you come from a constituency that is recognized and what you say will mean a lot to the people at your constituency.”
Earlier, Belgore had said the economic challenges was not peculiar to Nigeria alone and commended the administration’s effort to fix it.
According to Belgore, “I have always respected the president as a person. He loves this country very much. Because of that, what he need always is to have very good people around him.
“The economy is down all over Africa so if we have any other problem now, it’s just a child’s play with what is happening in other countries. I pray that this country will continue to develop under you.
“God will continue to guide you right and the country will be very very strong. We are holding another election next year.”