A Muslim rights activist, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, has called on Muslims across the country to ensure they register for their Permanent Voters Card.
Akintola made this call during a stakeholders conference organised by Political Awareness Group, an association of Muslim Professionals and Technocrats in Nigeria, in Ibadan on Sunday.
He noted that the PVC is equivalent to ‘a lifeline’ for every Nigerian who has it.
“Any Muslim that does not collect PVC has failed the ummah. When they are collecting our children’s hijab or preventing them from praying, they are gradually erasing Islam. It’s not about being stubborn.
“It was when someone was governor in Osun that they were able to solve their hijab issue and introduce hijrah holiday. Or why do you think there is no national holiday to mark hijrah,” he asked rhetorically.
He explained further that anyone who fails to register for the PVC and vote during election will simply “deprive himself of the opportunity to free yourself from neo colonialism and the freedom that should come to you is gone for the next four years.”
“Your PVC is your lifeline. If you want good life, road, electricity, freedom in your mosque, you must register,” he added.
Earlier in his keynote address, PAG’s chairman, Barrister Abdulwaheed Olowonjaiye, stated that the group is fully committed to ensuring all Muslims have their PVC.
“We are here today as we can see that Nigerians are preparing for 2023 elections. We want to awaken the consciousness of the Muslims.
“We are technocrats and professionals. We want to know how Muslims are preparing for the elections. They should not complain of bad governance if they cannot get their PVCs.
“This is the time to till the land, this is the time to sow the seeds. They should not complain. This is the time to prepare. If we want good governance, this is the time to sow the seeds. They should get their PVCs and vote during the elections.”
