ACF, NEF resolve to reclaim power in 2015

Say North williingly conceded power to the South in 2011
*Condemn Rivers crisis
By Luka Binniyat
KADUNA—AREWA Consultative Forum, ACF, and the Northern Elders Forum,
NEF, have unanimously resolved to ensure that power returned to the
Northern part of Nigeria in 2015.
The groups also said the North willingly conceded power to the southin
2011, to give the zone a feeling of belonging.
Briefing newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, spokesman of the groups, Prof.
Ango Abdullahi called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an
immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the
Nigeria Police to settle political disputes.
His words: ''The fact that we don't come out in shouting matches and
in abusive languages styles and so on sometimes gives the wrong
impression that we do not have deep rooted concern for ourselves
about 2015. This is not truth. The South Southis a tiny enclave of a
few people, perhaps not bigger than Kaduna state.
''The north is determined and is insistent that the leadership of the
country will rotate to it in 2015. And I am making that very clear to
you. On behalf of all of us, ACF in front because they have been the
oldest group and the Middle Belt Forum and our other groups that have
been very active andstrong. All of us are likely to have this very
tough and common agenda. Not that the north and power blind. No! it
will be argued on the rational agreement that are on ground today.
The north on the basis of one-man-one-vote can keep power
indefinitely in the present Nigeria state. If it is on the basis of
one man, one vote, the demography shows that the north can keep power
as long as it wants because it will always win elections
" If we didn't have eight years becauseof truncation, at least we have
six but they said no. But I don't want to go into how this no were
translated into yes. Because it must have been the fault of
northerners as far as I am concern they allowed this because it was
their turn. But they allowed it. So, then , it was Jonathan came 2011.
I thought he should be the first, purely on moral grounds, knowing
that there is rotation arrangement in place and that there was an
agreement and all of them were signatory but they cameout in the
public to say that they don'tknow about rotation. Obasanjo started
it, he said he didn't know about rotation. Jonathan himself said it
that he didn't' know about rotation"
In addition, Abdullahi said: ''The shameful and disturbing abuse of
power and rule of law in River State, are signs that Nigeria is
descending into anarchy and lawlessness rarely seen in our history.
"The hands of the presidency are clearly visible in all these events
that appear to draw inspiration from the ambition of President
Goodluck Jonathan to stay in power in 2015. The most recent
development in River State represents a new low in the shameful
conduct of political office holders at the highest levels, and they
should be condemned by all Nigerians.
"The crisis in River State is a sad reminder of our experience in the
western Nigeria crisis of 1963. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan
to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and
stop using the Nigeria Police to settle his political disputes. The
Police must not be dragged into the internal crisis of the President's
party. The governor and people of River State and indeed, all citizens
of Nigeria, deserve the full protection of the law and their rights to
live in peace under the state-guaranteed security.
"There are ominous signs that the newleadership of the NPC is out to
create sensation and plunge Nigeria into avoidable crisis. Instead of
settling down to understand the complex demographic dynamics of the
country, the new leadership has so far only engaged in spurious
pedestrian and unsupported allegation to discredit the 2006 national
population census."