2015: We didn't endorse Jonathan -ACF

From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday denied endorsing President
Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 presidential election, saying those who
claimed to have endorsed him on behalf of the Forum were blacklegs
that represented their own personal interests rather than the larger
interest of ACF.
In his opening remarks at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the
Forum, the National Chairman of ACF, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed
specifically came down heavily on retired General Lawrence Onoja and
Senator John Wash Pam for visiting President Jonathan and telling him
on behalf of ACF that he (Jonathan) must contest the 2015 election.
Mohammed said it was too early and counter-productive to discuss 2015
politics, adding that the reception thePresidency accorded Onoja, Pam
and those who claimed to have endorsed Jonathan on behalf of ACF
amounted to dividing the North.
He also suggested that Nigeria shouldemulate Kenya in conducting all
the elections on the same day, saying that it would reduce cost of all
arrangements that would make the elections successful.
The ACF boss said the Forum would continue to mount pressure on
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to see reasons with
it to conduct all the elections in one day, disclosing that a
committee had been set up to reconcile northerngovernors and any
aggrieved northerner before the election year.
"We noticed with dismay that some members of this organization have
gone to the president and assured him that he must contest in 2015
election. We are really surprised that some members that went there
are also members of ACF.
It is very sad that the Presidency has employed the divide and rule
against the North. "I am speaking particularly of two gentlemen; the
two gentlemen I am referring to, one is ACF and the other is of
Northern EldersForum.
The ACF is retired General 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. "It is the considered view of ACF that
certain politics of 2015 is too early, it is counter-productive.
Apart from heating up the politics, such early start can distract from
governance, more so that INEC is yet to give the green light for
political activities to begin. "We were surprised that they have gone
to see the president, particularly Onoja that is here with us in ACF.
We have gone with Onoja to every meeting we haveheld, and he turned
round to say the president must contest in 2015, using the word, must.
"We went to Maiduguri together when we went to see Dr. Ahmed Dattiand
Onoja was with us. He also made it possible for us when we went to
Maiduguri to meet the leaders of the JTF and we had a long discussion
till the early hours because the military had problem with the people
and we think that if we intervene, things will be better.
"He must have tried to see us, but we want to see him on our condition
rather than on his own condition, 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 organize wherewe can meet in Abuja if
they cannot come to Kaduna.
Whoever wants to see us, lets him come to Kaduna and see us. But they
went and told the whole world that the North is now divided.
"The effort to come together is necessary for common vision, common
goal and common strategiesneeded to negotiate from position of
strength and secure some favourable terms in the polity.
"ACF also wants to bring back all members of the Forum who have opted
out and formed their own platforms to also speak for the same North,
"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 noticed that for free and fairelections in 2015, there should
be only one election day. In Kenya, therewas one day election for
seven elections, that is the Presidency, Senate, House of
Representatives, State Assemblies as well as local government, all in
one day.
I can't see any reason why Nigeria willnot 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. "Also during one of our
visits to Kano, when we saw the Governor of the State, Rabiu
Kwankwaso, he asked theACF to reconcile the leadership of the North.
"I think it is very necessary nowfor ACF to really intervene about
what is happening with the Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF).We
are not talking about the Nigeria Governors' Forum, we cannot even
decide who lead them. We are talkingabout the Northern Governors'
Forum where two governors have already withdrawn. It is something that
we have to reconcile. "I come from BauchiState, I feel really unhappy
that my governor has withdrawn from the Northern Governors' Forum."