A call has gone to residents of Ikorodu division from ages 18 and above to ensure they register and collect their permanent voter’s card in order to guarantee the election of qualified and competent candidates into elective offices in the state and the federal levels in 2019.
Making this call was Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru, popularly called GOA by his teeming supporters. Abiru is a leading aspirant for the Lagos East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressive Congress from Ikorodu division.
He said, ‘without registering and obtaining your PVC, all our efforts at creating awareness will be an exercise in futility. If you say, you are not concerned, that will be too unfortunate. Democracy is not democracy without the effective participation of people. That is why it is defined as the government of the people, made by the people and for the people’.
On challenges faced by residents at the only INEC office in Ikorodu division, Abiru charged the people not to be discouraged, promising that himself and other well-meaning Ikorodu division leaders will do all within their powers to address the problems, with a view to making it easier and faster for them to register and collect their PVCs.
The APC Chieftain also reiterated the assurances given by Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, in his speech at the palace that, the Ikorodu division royal fathers and other well-meaning indigenes will dialogue with INEC in order to decentralize the PVC registration exercise, promising them of a positive change in the INEC registration exercise within a maximum of three weeks.
Abiru also stressed that, ‘we are so educated in Ikorodu that we cannot continue to fold our arms and allow misfits and people without any sense of administrative proficiency to continue to direct the political activities of the community’.
He further appealed to the people not to stand aloof by leaving politics in the hands of politicians alone. Abiru stated that, without the people there cannot be democracy.
He further enlightened the people on the inter-relationship between politics and the economy, stressing that, without electing the right people in political offices, there is no way the nation’s economy can thrive.
The well-attended 1-Million Man March for PVC rally was graced by APC chieftain and vice Chairman, Lagos East Senatorial District of the party, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, members of the JB I-Care Foundation, Onward Movement of Nigeria, Omoluabi political groups, A+ Disciples and A+ Vanguard among many others.
Other participants include the Ikorodu Ambassadors Group, Ikorodu Division Not Too Young To Run, Market men and wome, Baales and several other groups across Ikorodu division’s local government and local council development areas.