FORMER Abia governor, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has advocated the use of electronic voting in the future elections in Nigeria.
Onu made the suggestion in Sokoto during the investiture of Governor Aliyu Wamakko as the 2014 Man-of-the-Year bestowed on him by the Verbatim Magazine.
He said that electronic balloting would enable the electoral commission to conduct all elections on the same day across the day.
According to him, adopting electronic voting will ensure the conduct of all elections on the same day across the country, and this will further help in making the polls free, fair, transparent and acceptable.
‘’Democracy can only thrive in an environment where elections are credible, free, fair, transparent and acceptable.
‘’Doing so will make Nigerians to participate fully in the choice of their leaders, hence, build more confidence in the system,’’ Onu, who was the chairman of the occasion, said.
Onu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) assured Nigerians that the President-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, would build a nation where all Nigerians were equal.
Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, Sokoto and Guest Speaker at the occasion, said, ‘’the challenges that are facing the incoming administration are legendary.
‘’ I stand to say that never in the political history of Nigeria that a regime is inheriting this mountain of challenges.
‘’For me, I have no doubts that Buhari is equal to the task as everyone has attested to his good character, self-discipline, incorruptibility, humility, sense of justice, fear of Allah, sacrifice, determination and courage.’’
In his paper entitled ‘’The Challenges of Leadership in the Post-2015 Nigerian General Elections’’, Yaqub expressed optimism that Buhari would not disappoint Nigerians.
Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Tobs Agbaegbu, said that the award was an uncommon honour usually given to leaders who played roles of field marshal in a battle.
‘’ In this context, it is a war against obstacles and challenges like mass unemployment and poverty, war against diseases, infrastructural decay, social vices and long years of non-delivery of democratic dividends,’’ he added.
Receiving the award, Wamakko commended the magazine for the honour, adding that it would spur him to do more to further enthrone justice, equality, respect for the rule of law and human dignity, among others.
‘’Nigerians had yearned for a change in the country and God has answered our prayers. This sacrifice by Nigerians would not go in vain.
‘’Buhari will strive to translate the desires for change into actions and Nigerians will not be disappointed.
‘’Nigerians must, however, be patient and fervently prayerful,’’ he said.

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