2023: North jittery over voters’ apathy in Katsina, other states

 . As Coalition of Northern Groups (CNP) moves to address it

BY ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina

Northern figures under the auspices of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has raised an alarm over wide spread apathy for Continuous Voters Registration and on-going revalidation of voter’s cards in Katsina State.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of well attended one day Katsina sensitization lecture organized by the coalition on Wednesday to drive its “Get Your PVC to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria” campaign, the CNG’s board of Trustees chairman, Dr. Nastura Ashir Sharif, expressed their deep worries over the apathy of eligible voters in Katsina and many state in the north.

“We are just kick – starting the programme; we are going to visit the 19 northern states including Abuja. The reason we started in Katsina is because Katsina was in second position in the last presidential election but in this ongoing revalidation / registration of voters, Katsina is almost second to the last,” he stated.

Dr. Sharif equally noted that the sensitization campaign also tagged, ” My Vote, My Future,” would soon be taken to the 19 northern states.

On vote buying, the CNG chieftain explained that the nation might neither get out of the wood nor get good leaders if Nigerians continued to collect money from politicians ahead of elections.

His words: “Let’s get our PVC but let’s elect good leaders from whichever political parties, whether big or small; if we are comfortable with the character, competence and personality of a candidate, we should vote for him, we shouldn’t waste time going for only the major political parties.”

Responding to concerns about the religious extraction of the presidential candidates and their running mates in 2023 polls, the CNG boss cautioned Nigerians to allow the candidates exercise their discretion, saying “I don’t care  about a candidate’s faith or anything of that nature.”

Speaking further on the apathy of many about the ongoing democratic process, he attributed the problem to the prevailing socio-economic challenges.

“The problem is a lot of people have lost hope in democratic system because of what they had gone through from 2015 to date in terms of insecurity, the hardship and painful life they are going through; that’s why people are reluctant to participate in the ongoing exercise. But with this enlightenment, God willing, people will come out,” said Sharif.