The apex northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday rejected the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 presidential election.
ACF Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, made the forum’s position known during its annual general meeting held at its headquarters on Sokoto Road, Kaduna.
This is just as the forum accused President Jonathan of being behind the divide-and-rule tactics allegedly being used against the North ahead of 2015.
The ACF also moved against some of its members – former military administrator of Plateau State, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Onoja, and Senator John Wash Pam both from the Middle Belt Region who were accused of being pro- Jonathan.
National Mirror had earlier reported that ACF chieftains were divided over the second term ambition of President Jonathan. They viewed the support of his Presidency as being inimical to northern interests.
Mohammed added that some of the forum’s members, especially those from the Middle Belt, had betrayed the North by endorsing the incumbent President contrary to the region’s plan to wrest power come 2015.
He said: “It is very sad that the Presidency has employed the divide and rule against the North. “It is very glaring because we noticed with dismay that some members of this organisation have gone to the President and assured him that he must contest the 2015 election.
We are really surprised that some members that went there are also members of ACF. “I am speaking particularly of two gentlemen; the two gentlemen I am referring to, one is ACF and the other is of Northern Elders’ Forum.
The ACF is Gen. Lawrence Onoja, he was actually part of the group that went to see the President. Also, one of the elders, Senator John Wash Pam was there. We were really surprised that they have gone to see the President, particularly Onoja that is here with us in ACF.
“We went to Maiduguri together to see Dr. Ahmed Datti, and Onoja was with us. He also made it possible for us when we went to Maiduguri to meet the leaders of the Joint Task Force, JTF, and we had a long discussion till the early hours because the military had problems with the people and we think that if we intervene, things will be better.
“We have gone with Onoja to every meeting we have held, and for him to turn round to say the President must contest in 2015, using the word, ‘must’ is surprising.
It is necessary to come together for common vision, goal and strategy needed to negotiate from the position of strength and secure a favourable camp in politics.
“He must have tried to see us, but we want to see him on our conditions rather than on his own conditions. We know if he comes to Kaduna, he will see us, and if we want to go with him to Abuja, we would have gone with him.
“But they can also organise where we can meet in Abuja if they cannot come to Kaduna. Whoever wants to see us, let him come to Kaduna and see us. “But they went and told the whole world that the North is now divided.
Also during one of our visits to Kano, when we saw the governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, he asked the ACF to reconcile the leadership of the North.”
The ACF also said that the 2015 campaigns were too early as it would heat up the politics. “It is considered in the view of ACF that certain politics towards 2015 is too early; it is counter-productive.
“Apart from heating up the polity, such early start can disrupt governance, moreso that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet to give the green light for political activities to begin”, the group said.
The ACF also called for the conduct of Nigerian elections in one day just as Kenya and other countries did to minimise rigging. “We have noticed really that for free and fair elections in 2015, there should be one-day election. “In Kenya, there was one-day election for seven elections.
That is, the Presidency, Senate, House of Representatives, state assemblies and local governments all in one day. “I can’t see any reason why Nigeria will not do that. We also feel that it is going to be cheaper and all the security and other arrangements will be done same day.
“So if Kenya can do it, I see no reason why Nigeria cannot do it. It is the candid view of the ACF that certain politics for 2015 is counter-productive.
I am of the view that we will pressure INEC to really think about our view and hold elections on the same day.” The ACF leader said the resignation of Bauchi and Benue state governors, Isa Yuguda and Dr. Gabriel Suswam respectively from Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, was not good for the region, saying the forum will intervene in the crisis by reconciling aggrieved governors.
“I think it is very necessary now for ACF to really intervene about what is happening with the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF.
We are not talking about the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF; we cannot even decide who leads them. We are talking about the Northern Governors Forum where two governors have already withdrawn.
It is something that we have to reconcile. I come from Bauchi State, I feel really unhappy that my governor has withdrawn from the NSGF.” The group said the year under review came with lots of challenges especially insecurity posed by Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram.
“The forum’s response to such violent crimes was condemnation of violence as a veritable means of addressing perceived concerns as well as enjoined them to embrace dialogue as the only way of securing peaceful coexistence that come with trust and confidence,” Mohammed said. ACF however said it would checkmate the breeding of such groups in the region.
“We were approached in the beginning of this year by the Northern Elders Forum to submit the list of all the groups in the North. We have set up a committee jointly with our own member, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, the Sardauna Katsina, and Professor Ango Abdullahi is on the other side.”
On his part, ACF Secretary General, Col. Musa Shehu (rtd) said the forum came under severe pressure from those in government and opposition for support.
“Some of our members pulled out to form their political organisations to pursue their interests. ACF is for northern interest not for individual interest.
We are protecting the interest of both Northerners in government and opposition because we can’t support one,” he said.
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