The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Monday told
President Goodluck Jonathan that he might not vote during the next month’s
general elections because he had yet to collect his Permanent Voter Card.
Jonathan, who was in the Sokoto State in continuation of the Peoples
Democratic Party’s presidential campaign, visited the religious leader to seek
his blessing.
The Sultan said it was imperative for the Federal Government to do
everything within its powers to ensure that no eligible voter was
disenfranchised.
He said, “Let us respect people’s wishes; let’s not try to
disenfranchise anybody.
“We have had issues of the Permanent Voter Cards and I want to tell you
that even myself, I don’t have a PVC, so it means I will not vote on February
14.
“So, we have to look for a way out, it is for your government to now
look for what to do, how to ensure that all the cards get to the voters before
the voting day or in the alternative, find a way out because for any problem
there is a solution.
“We believe you will find a solution as regard this very serious hitch
facing us because millions of Nigerians seem to be heading towards
disenfranchisement and they won’t be able to vote. I have heard comments from
the INEC Chairman, (Prof. Attahiru Jega), but we are still waiting for our
cards to come.”
The religious leader expressed concerns that campaigns ahead of the
general elections were taking religious colouration instead of being issue-based.
He urged all candidates to embrace peace and also caution their
supporters against violence.
The religious leader urged the government to work hard to end insecurity
in parts of the country.
He added, “As the leader of the Muslims in this country, I will not fail
to intimate the President and his government with the problems Muslims face in
this country, that is our own area of attention as Muslim leaders.
“We care about how we live as a people and we are very worried about how
we are living now as a people and God Almighty who placed leadership of the
country on your shoulders, we feel we must always alert you on how we have been
living.
“I will say never a time in this country’s history that we face very
serious challenges like what are facing now.
“The whole politicking had been turned into either religion or ethnic
matters and this should not be so because we see what happens across the world.
“We are worried because religion had been brought into it, we made it
very clear in 2011, there is no way religion should be part of the election
campaigns or even the election itself.
“As you have seen here, I think there are more Muslims in this room than
Christians and coming here now to come for prayers for success of your
campaigns goes to show that as the leader of the Muslims, I have no choice than
to pray for you.”
The Sultan advised the President on the need to tackle insecurity and
unemployment.
“On insecurity issues facing us in all parts of country, we have heard
campaign promises left, right and centre but we want to hear from our political
leaders, how do you intend to resolve the security issues? How do you intend to
tackle unemployment? How do you intend to tackle the rot in education?
“These are issues that should concern the various political leaders
instead of mudslinging, calling each other names and whatever.
“We are very worried what we see in newspapers, watch on television and
hear comments from our people, brothers and friends.
“Politics of this country have now been turned into a war, families are
being divided, friends have become enemies just because of seeking for
political office,” he lamented.
He wished the Jonathan’s campaign team well in its endeavours as he
prayed for peaceful and fair elections.
Jonathan told the Sultan that his administration was committed to
transforming the country.
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Politics