Group wants Northerners to participate in voter, National ID Card registration

From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna

A group, Advocacy for Integrity and Rule of Law Initiative (AIRLIN) has called on Nigerians especially those residing in Northern parts to get actively involved in electoral activities by exercising their constitutional rights and voting leaders of their choices.

The National Coordinator, Alh. Muhammad Ibrahim Gamawa made the call during the inauguration ceremony of State and Local Government Coordinators of Kaduna State at Arewa House, today.

He stressed that the objective is to advocate to Nigerians to be law abiding citizens, to respect each other irrespective of diversity in religion and culture, noting that, Citizens are saddled with the responsibility of protecting the image of the Country, within and outside Nigeria.

“That is why we are here to inaugurate one of our 15 offices we have in the 19 Northern States because our aim is to cover all the Northern States. We are here to advocate for citizens to come and vote at the Centre cause they have to elect their leaders.

“If you recalled the last general elections was witnessed by only 42 percent of voters and 68 were absent which is bad for the Country. So, we have to come out and know who failed to vote and one, convince them to vote for their leaders and keep them in offices to protect their own interest.”

As part of their goals to increase voter participation, the National Coordinator disclosed that the NGO will assist Citizens to get voters card, “The moment INEC opens the portal, we’ll have to help them get their voters card so that they can participate in any elections and exercise their rights.”

Gamawa also harped on the importance of having a National Identity card, saying that, with the security situation, it is very easy to brand a Nigerian without National ID card as foreigner or an invader or part of those involved in kidnapping.

Some people don’t have a National ID card which is a very big problem for Nigerians most especially those who are going to the Southern part of the Country.

“They will be stopped by Amotekun or any other cultural groups, they will be rounded up and asked to identify themselves and where they come from, some may even accuse them that they are not Nigerians.

“Some will say they are from Kaduna but where is the ID card? But he doesn’t have neither does he have a driver’s licence or any other means of identification which will make them suspect he’s an outsider.”

He also disclosed that his Organization is planning a one day conference to host at least 200 Islamic Scholars in Gama local Government who will come and be educated about nation building, citizens rights and duties and in turn, educate the students and pupils under them.

“We’ll tell them their own duty, that the burden of electing a Senator, a Rep Member, a Governor and a President rests on them. They are citizens of Nigeria in every way but they have to come out and do their own duty by electing those who will be their leaders.”