From Bola Ogunlayi Ibadan
The Ezendigbo of Ibadanland and Oyo state His Royal Highness (HRH) Eze Dr Alex Anozie has admonished the Federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to enact a law making it mandatory for Nigerians to register for their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) apart from voting.
Speaking in his palace in Ibadan, Eze Dr Anozie said the law when enacted,would make it mandatory for Nigerians to register and participate in the electioneering process rather than being aloof or showing apathy.
“Election is an important aspect in a country development ,every well meaning Nigerian should be involved in the democratic process of electing leaders” he stated.
In order to ensure compliance, the Ezendigbo said the registration for the PVC should be a mandatory requirement in school admission and banking transactions in the nation adding that when this is done, it would deepen democracy in Nigeria.
The traditional ruler suggested that the federal government should also make registration easy by decentralizing it and making it nearer to people’s home besides extending the deadline for the date of the exercise .
Dr Anozie also harped on ensuring that Nigerians do not only register but participate in the process .
“One thing is to register for the PVC and have it, another thing is to use it while the deadline for the exercise should be a few weeks to the election”.
Dr Anozie explained that by extending the deadline, youth especially 18 years and above will be able to register and vote instead of being shut out of the process of voting and denying them of the opportunity of helping to choose the right leader and growing Nigeria in the process.
“ There are many of those who have not registered not because they do not want to but because they are just attaining the voting age of 18 years or above, these set should be allowed to register and vote and the process simplified to enhance this” Eze Ndigbo pointed out.
He maintained that, peaceful environment must always be in place during elections, saying it will go a very long way in encouraging everybody to go out to vote.
Meanwhile, Eze Dr Anozie posited that it is not the best for Nigerians whether Muslim or Christain of good conscience to ask Ndigbo to go to hell taking into consideration their contribution and investments in the growth and development of Nigeria.
He prayed to God to make Nigerians use this golden opportunity to tell Ndigbo that they belong to one Nigeria.
He stated that he is not saying this because he is an Igbo man but because of his great belief in peace,unity and justice in the country.
“Am not saying that Nigeria should use this opportunity to tell Ndigbo that they are truly Nigerians because I am an Igbo man but because I want peace, equity,unity,justice .
“If I belong to the other tribe,I would have said the same thing “ Dr Anozie boasted.
“ If it is the west,north or south that is in this situation,I would have said the same thing in the interest of equity, peace, justice ,and unity,Nigeria is a plural society considering the fact that it has so many tribes and ethnic groups”,he concluded.