Sultan of Sokoto and President of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, approached Nigerians to secure their votes in the presidential decision planned for Saturday.
He gave the charge in Abuja in the course of the 2019 Murtala Muhammed Memorial Lecture, sorted out by Murtala Muhammed Foundation, with the topic: “Towards credible, peaceful and participatory election – Moving Nigeria’s democracy forward.”
Abubakar noted, “Why so much concern about the presidential election in Nigeria especially by foreign partners? We need to ask ourselves. But the simple issue is that Nigeria’s 200 million population is such a big concern to everybody.
“The reason is that the survivability of Nigeria is so important to the world that everybody must come together to see credible and peaceful elections in Nigeria where whoever emerges will be accepted by all and must be accepted by all.”
The monarch said, “That is why I want to call on Nigerians go out exercise your rights, vote for the candidate you feel is best for you and ensure you protect your vote.”
Also at the gathering, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, explained at it was necessary for the political parties and the government to place trusts in youth, since they are in dominant part as well as in light of the fact that the historical backdrop of Nigeria has demonstrated that the country accomplished more with youngsters in control.
He said, “The political parties and the system need to begin to put trust in young people, not just because they are the majority as people say but because when you go to the history of our country, you find it that all the great things were done by young people. You think of Tafawa Balewa, Ahamadu Bello, Yakubu Gowon, Muritala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo in his first term as military Head of State.
“I certainly think Obasanjo in his first term when he was in his 30s was a better Head of State than his second term when he was in his 70s. So, it is important I think, giving the history of our country to recommend that young people have shown that they are capable, that they have vision, that they have the energy, that they have the belief in the country and we need to consciously promote them and hopefully next elections 2023 we will begin to see much more younger people.
“I hope those who are older will be there to guide them, counsel them, the way Maitama Sule was counseling Gen. Muritala Muhammed. But it is extremely important that older generation, while they are alive to hand over this country over to the next generation, watch them and decide them so that when they are gone they are happy.”
Prior, the Chief Executive Officer of the establishment, Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, said that the current year’s version was somewhat propitious coming only couple of days to the elections.
As indicated by her, while some advancement has been gained in the nation’s discretionary ground, a great deal still should have been done to enhance fair advancement and settle in great administration.