An advocacy group, Advocacy for Integrity and Rule of Law Initiative (AIRLIN), has called on Nigerians especially residing in Northern parts to get 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 for Kaduna State at the Arewa House.
He said the objective is to sensitise Nigerians on the need 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 country’s image 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 because they have to elect their leaders.
“If you recall, the last general election 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’ cards, “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 with the security situation, it has become easy to brand a Nigerian without National ID card as foreigner, invader or kidnapper.
“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 organisation 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.
“After now, we keep on with what we do like monthly gatherings, the seminars, conferences and others where we call lecturers and administrators to teach about what a Nation is, and a Nation is where people of different religions and ethnicity operates and stay together in peace and not in pieces.”
Speaking earlier Kaduna State coordinator of AIRLIN, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, said the group is bent on making positive changes that will restore dignity and respect for Nigerians.
He added that AIRLIN is home to everyone especially those who believe that there’s a need to reset the negative events bedeviling the country.
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