THE North seems to be divided over the 2015 presidential election, with a new group emerging yesterday to push President Goodluck Jonathan’s yet unannounced ambition.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is seen as the voice of the North.
A splinter group, the Northern Elders Council (NEC), was unfolded in Kaduna. It is led by elder statesman Tanko Yakassai.
Other key members of the NEC are Ambassador Ledan Shuni, Vice Chairman of the ACF’s Board of Trustees and a former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman.
The new group declared its unalloyed support for the 2015 re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
This is contrary to the position of the ACF and the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) that the presidency should return to the North in 2015.
But the ACF seems unfazed by it all.
To the ACF, it is not unusual to see such activities as elections approach.
ACF spokesman Anthony Sani said in an SMS: “Surely, the proliferation of groups by northern elders who profess to speak for the North is not the preferred option. But ACF is not very worried, precisely because actually the North has never been a united whole unit when it comes to partisan politics.
“Most of these groups springing up are partisan in intent and purposes. This is because it is unrealistic to expect all northerners to speak with one voice at partisan level. That is not possible and is not desirable either. Even the law does not allow it when it provides that the President has to be voted for by the entire country and not by only a section.
“So, when we talk of speaking with one voice, it is about the majority, since there is always minority right in any democracy. And that was why Alhaji Shehu Shagari contested with Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim and Mallam Aminu Kano in the North and with Zik and Awo in the South during the Second Republic. So what I believe is happening is clearly democracy in action.”
Kaduna State Governor Mukthar Yero is concerned that there is growing tension in the country ahead of the 2015 elections. He has urged elders to engage stakeholders, and educate the youth on the sanctity of the ballot box.
Yakassai said the new group was ready to partner with others and individuals from all parts of the country who believe in dialogue, mutual respect, harmony and peaceful coexistence.
Yakassai said the NEC would “protect the socio-economic and political interest of the North, the corporate existence and stability of the Nigerian nation”.
“We are firm and committed beleivers in the Nigerian project,” he said, adding:
“We recognise the significance of Nigeria’s centenary as a political entity and call on all Nigerians to serve as agents of consolidation of national unity and continued existence of our nation as one indivisible country. Northern Nigeria has made immense contributions to the unity, well being and development of Nigeria as well as the historical relationship of its people between the North and the South long before amalgamation.
“The Northern Elders Council acknowledges the current state of violence and insurgency in the North, armed robbery and kidnapping in other parts of the country. We urge all men and women of goodwill to act in concert to eradicate and stabilise the polity.
“We in Northern Elders Council appreciate the tremendous progress made in Nigeria’s march towards establishing a stable democratic order. We will work alongside Nigerians who wish to ensure that machinations of anti-democratic forces in this country are frustrated… It is unacceptable for elders to make inflammatory statements capable of breaching the peace…”
The NEC pledged its support for the National Conference.
Addressing the Elders, Yero said: “As elders, it is time for you to put heads together in proffering workable solutions to the myriad of socio-political as well as economic challenges plaguing development in our country.
“Our elders must urgently seek ways of reviving the strong bond of unity and brotherhood that used to be the major basis of stability of the region within a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. The present situation where our people have been divided along ethnic and religious lines is unacceptable and inimical to sustainable growth and development.
“We must work together towards finding ways to stem the growing tension in the region as well as in the country. In achieving this, we cannot underestimate the power of dialogue and all aggrieved persons must be allowed to ventilate their opinions on the way forward.
“It is also a common knowledge that the heightened tension is directly linked to next year’s general elections”.
In their 11-point communiqué read by Yusuf Mamman, the NEC welcome the publication of the election time table by the Independent National Electoral Commission and urged all political parties and actors to avoid heating up the polity.
They called on governors to promptly develop a master plan for the modernisation of agriculture, address the problem of massive unemployment, poverty and lack of economic empowerment and also initiate programmes that will address social issues as unemployment and widespread poverty and other social challenges.
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