The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Non-indigenes

  • PVC collection: INEC allays fears of non-indigenes

    PVC collection: INEC allays fears of non-indigenes

    The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, has refuted the claim that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is disenfranchising non-indigenes, by denying them their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). He said there are still 1.8 million cards waiting for people to collect, adding that those who have not collected theirs should come forward to do so.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lagos to update the public on developments concerning its preparations towards the forthcoming general elections, Orebiyi said the Commission in Lagos and elsewhere in the country are working round the clock to ensure that all registered voters collect their cards.

    He said: “As we speak, out of 5.9 million cards for Lagos State, we have distributed 3.6 million cards, which amounts to 62.7 per cent as at the end of last week. But, out of the 5.9 million cards, we are still waiting for about 400,000 cards. We are expecting cards in practically all the 20 local governments of the state.”

    The REC said people are construing the delay in arrival of the cards to mean that the Commission is denying some particular sections of the state their right to vote. He said: “It is not the intention of INEC to deny any ethnic group or any single community the collection of their cards. When we carried out the registration exercises, both in 2011 and 2014, people were not registered on the basis of which part of the country they came from. Therefore, there is no way we could have said these are the particular cards for a particular community.

    “Interestingly, the group that came here to lodge their complaints, when we looked at their letter and the names of those who were yet to collect their cards in their community, specifically from Ajeromi/Ifelodun, the names cut across all the ethnic groups. So, there is no intention on the part of INEC or any of its officials, within Lagos State or any part of Nigeria, to deny any community, any group the collection of their cards.”

    Orebiyi said Lagosians should not wait until the deadline on Sunday March 8 to collect the PVCs. He said from this week, collection of PVCs in the state would be extended to the polling units on Fridays and Saturdays, to bring it nearer to the people. For now, PVC distribution is taking place at INEC offices in the 20 local governments.

    He said when he took charge as the REC in January the percentage of PVC distribution was around 38 per cent, “but as at the end of last week, it was 62.7 per cent.”

    Orebiyi, who also used the opportunity to demonstrate how the Smart Card Readers that would be deployed on election day works, said his office has received about 12,000 card readers and that the commission’s staffs are busy, trying to configure them in readiness for the election. According the REC, each Smart Card Reader is configured to work in a particular polling unit. In other words, it cannot work in any other polling unit other than the one it is configured for. “The implication of this is that it will only identify or authenticate PVCs for that particular polling unit,” he said.

    He said there are two steps in the operation of the Smart Card Readers that would be followed when it is deployed for the election. His words: “One is authentication; this is to ascertain that the card belongs to INEC. If anybody brings another PVC that is not issued by INEC, it will not authenticate it or recognize it as INEC’s card. So, the issue of fake cards or clowned PVCs will not arise, because the Smart Card Reader will not authenticate it.

    “The next step, after the authentication, is the verification stage, where the bearer of the card would be asked to put his thumb on a particular point on the Smart Card Reader, to verify whether he or she is the rightful owner of the card. The implication of this is that no person can use another person’s card. This means that no person can be accredited and possibly vote in more than one place. These are some of the measures we’ve put in place to ensure a more transparent process this time around.”

    He said the Smart Card Reader is very reliable, because it has been tested in other countries, including Ghana and Kenya, where it worked effectively well. “The battery life of the Smart Card Readers is 12 hours. During the general election, it is going to be in use within the hours of 8am and 1pm,” the REC added.

    Orebiyi said the Smart Card Readers would be charged well in advance and overnight before the election day. He said provision would be made for a generator per collation centre, to ensure that the issue of the Card Readers failing because there is light to charge them would be ruled out. “But, in the case of failure, there is a contingency arrangement for a back-up,” he added.

    He said the electoral process this year would be dramatically different from what obtained in the past, as every vote would count because Nigeria has come to stage where it would no longer be business as usual.

  • Army chief assures non-indigenes of safety

    CHIEF of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika was yesterday in Onitsha. His mission was to assure resident-settlers in the Southeast of safety and allay the fears of non-indigenes.

    The General said there would be no reprisals over the bomb attack on Sabon-Gari bus station in Kano, Kano State.

    The COAS urged community leaders to prevail on the people to remain calm.

    Lt-Gen. Ihejirika, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Div, Nigeria Army, Enugu, Maj- Gen Adebayo Olaniyi, toured the Onitsha Main Market and the Head Bridge Market as well as the Arewa Park, among other markets on foot for over three hours.

    He held talks with the various market leaders and traders on the need to maintain the peace and shun inducements for a reprisal.

    Commending the maturity of Ndigbo in handling the situation, he thanked Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and leaders (religious and community) for their proactive measures to ensure the threat for a reprisal was nipped in the bud.

    Gen. Ihejrirka, who later addressed a stakeholders meeting at the Officers’ Mess, 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigeria Army, Onitsha, said that reprisal attacks could never solve the security challenges facing the country.

    He said: “Let me also state categorically that the insinuation of a possible reprisal attack is unfounded as it exists only in the imagination of some unpatriotic elements desperate to cause tension.

    “I am, however, aware that a few non-indigenes, resident in Onitsha, have out of perceived fear, moved away from their abode to other areas for safety.

    “There is no report of any form of attack to warrant these movements. Since yesterday when the report was received, troops of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies have mounted patrols to monitor the situation in major towns and flash points across the Southeast.

    “I can, therefore conveniently inform you all that there is no tension of any sort and citizens, including non-indigenes, should go about their businesses without fear.’’

    He sued for peace across the Southeast, especially in the commercial city of Onitsha, assuring that the army was on top of the security challenges.

    Gen. Ihejirika addedthat Sunday’s bomb attack in the ancient city of Kano was unfortunate and needed serious maturity to handle.

  • Non-indigenes to sit at home today

    The Ethnic Traditional Leaders Forum in Kano has declared a sit-at-home today — to mourn, fast and pray for non-indigenes killed in the motor park suicide bombing.

    In a statement in Kano yesterday, the Forum requested all non-indigenes to close their shops and other places of business in honour of the dead, so as to pray for the repose of the souls of the departed .

    The statement urged all non-indigenes to heed the directive.

     

  • Non-indigenes are welcome in Katsina – Sada Rumah

    Non-indigenes are welcome in Katsina – Sada Rumah

    Alhaji Sada Salisu Rumah is the Senior Special Assistant, Diplomatic and Society Relations to Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina State. The journalist cum politician tells Adetutu Audu how the state governor is maintaining peaceful co-existence between indigenes and non-indigenes in the state. Excerpts

    What motivated the state tour you conducted recently?

    Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema has charged my office with the responsibility of sensitising people on government activities and bringing them closer to the government. We are doing our best to discharge this responsibility and the recent tour is part of this effort to build a bridge of understanding among the diverse people resident in Katsina State on one hand and between the people and government on the other.

    During our tour of the thirty four local government areas, we made consultations, listened to the opinions, views and aspirations of the different ethnic, social, cultural and religious groups of Nigerians resident in the state. The aim was to make every Nigerian feel at home and have a sense of belonging. It is also to make every one understand that despite our differences, God has ordained us to live together as brothers and sisters and we can do this comfortably once we are committed to mutual respect and understanding.

    In what way is the tour going to impact on the people?

    Our interaction will promote understanding among Nigerians from various parts of the country living in Katsina State. It will also reassure non indigenes that they are accepted and at home in Katsina State. We want to leave no one in doubt that Katsina State is truly the ‘Home of Hospitality’ and in our state, every one is involved in the effort to promote political, socio-economic, religious and cultural harmony. Just as every one is equally involved, so also every one is equally entitled to the benefits of programmes and policies of government. That is why in Katsina both indigenes and non-indigenes benefit from fee education, free healthcare services for children under five years, pregnant and nursing mothers and treatment for diseases such as malaria and kidney problems.

    Another important component of the tour is to consolidate the peace and security enjoyed by the state especially in the face of the security challenges faced in the country. We have enjoyed peace through prayers and deliberate effort to promote understanding among the people. Peace and security is important as an enabling environment for people to pursue their livelihood.

    But some people feel you are placing non indigenes as top priority. How accurate is this?

    I think in the modern world, no society can develop socially and economically without the influx of people from other parts of the world. Rather than placing so much emphasis on the term ‘non-indigene’, I think we should focus on making people feel free, secure and at home, so that we move toward eliminating the feeling of being a stranger. This is important because going by history even the Sullubawa, who are currently heading the traditional institutions in Katsina, came from somewhere. Today, it is inconceivable that we can think of them as non-indigenes.

    What government is doing here is to give room for every body regardless of ethno-religious differences to contribute his quota toward the development of the state. This is part of our culture and tradition. If you go round states in the East, West, South or South-South, in cities such as Lagos, Enugu , Onitsha and the Niger Delta region, you will see our people conducting their daily businesses peacefully.

    One of the governor’s top priorities, according to reports, is youth empowerment. Is your office involved in it?

    The administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema has contributed immensely toward making the youths and other people in the state to become self reliant. The government has improved agricultural activities through the provision of fertilizer, soft agricultural loans, farming implements and insecticides to farmers. These are geared to ensure food security.

    Business Apprenticeship Training Centres (BATC) have been established in some local governments to train youths in skills and trades. Soft loans have been provided to small scale and medium traders. Even local business-men and women have benefited from government intervention.

    The department of Diplomacy and Societal Relations has opened a door to listen and act on complaints of inadequacy, cheating or abuse of office among government organizations and staff.

    Secondly, this office has also been carrying out sensitization on the importance of peaceful co-existence among the people. This is important because peace is pivotal to the success of any government policy or programme, so we are assisting by promoting the enabling environment for government policies and programmes to succeed.