The All Progressives Congress Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described as irresponsible, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s opposition to the use of card readers for the coming general elections.
Osinbajo wondered why the ruling party is afraid to support the use of electronic device that would give credibility to the electoral process, saying the PDP was jittery of its imminent loss.
Osinbajo spoke yesterday at the presentation of a book entitled: For The Love of Their Nation: Lawyers as Agents of Change in Nigeria, written by former Judiciary Editor of the Guardian, Kunle Ogunsakin, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.
He said: “It is a big surprise to everybody watching political events that the PDP that approved the card reader for the election suddenly finds something seriously wrong with the device. The card reader is to ensure that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are not fake. It would be irresponsible for any political party to oppose the use of gadgets that would give credibility to electoral process. It sounds strange when the main political party says don’t let us authenticate the PVCs”.
The APC vice presidential candidate added: “There is a lot of impunity in the country. Many people are losing faith in the ability of administration of justice system and indeed, the government to observe the tenet of the rule of law. We must return to observance of the rule of law and to holding government and its officials accountable for what they do. That can only come from exemplary leadership”.
Osinbajo traced the PDP-led federal government’s inability to account for billions lost when crude oil price was at $130 to lack of accountability, pointing out that Saudi Arabia saved $750 billion in the period of increased oil sale but Nigeria’s foreign reserve did not even rise.
Consequently, the former Lagos Attorney-General said corruption must be stopped for the nation to make meaningful progress, just as he noted that the book asked thought-provoking question about engendering accountability and justice in the country.
The book reviewer, Mr Dele Adesina, SAN, described the book as a “literary work of great significance”, noting the author’s knowledge of justice system made him an authority even though he is not a lawyer.
