President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday enjoined state governors to embark on voter education exercise to enable Nigerians obtain their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to vote for the candidates of their choice in the 2019 general elections.
The president gave the charge 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.
He said the call had become imperative so as to enable eligible Nigerians obtain their PVC and vote anybody of their choice devoid of religion or ethnicity.
“I decided to put agbada and come back, I tried three times and then the fourth time I eventually made it. Thanks to God and thanks to technology because this permanent voter card and card readers are fantastic.
“Those who went to their polling booths in their constituency and voted, their votes counted.
“Before, votes were disregarded and results written and there was nothing you can do before the justices to prove 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,’’ he said.
The President, who attributed his victory at the 2015 polls to technology, urged the members of the judiciary to also help in educating Nigerians on the importance of PVC.
He said: “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.’’ he said.
Retired Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Alfa Belgore, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, observed that the ongoing economic challenges were not peculiar to Nigeria alone and commended the administration’s effort to fix it.
He said: “I have always respected the president as a person. He loves this country very much. Because of that, what he needs 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.”
