Arewa - ACF accuses presidency of dividing the North, plans to tackle security

The pan Northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on Thursday, accused the Presidency of engaging in acts capable of dividing the North.

While speaking at the Annual General Meeting(AGM) of the forum in Kaduna, Chairman of the ACF, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, Dan Iyan Misau, said it was very sad that the Presidency had employed the divide and rule tactics against the North.

He said it was very glaring because they had noticed with dismay that some members of the organisation had gone to the President and assured him that he must contest for 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 of ACF and the other is of Northern Elders Forum. The representative from 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,” he said.

He said they were surprised that the gentlemen had really gone to see the President particularly Onoja that was with them in ACF during their recent trips and meetings.

Meanwhile, the ACF also on Thursday, canvassed the holding of the 2015 general election in one day.

The Chairman, ACF Board of Trustees, General Jeremiah Useni (rtd) made the call in a message to the opening of the meeting in Kaduna.

Useni, who was represented by the Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed,  said holding the election in a day  would ensure transparency and acceptability of the polls.

“ We have noticed that for a free and fair elections in 2015 there should be only one election day,” he said.

“If Kenya would have one day election for seven elections, that is, the President, Governors, Senators, House of Representatives, State Houses Assembly and Local Governments all in one day, why not Nigeria.

“We also feel it is going to be cheaper and all the security thing will be done on that same day. If Kenya can do it I don’t see any reason why Nigeria cannot do it.”

The chairman said the forum would approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the suggestion, which he said would ensure that the peoples’ vote count.

On national politics, Useni accused the Federal Government of adopting a divide-and-rule tactics to polarise the North ahead of the 2015 election.
“I am very sad that the presidency have started divide and rule on the north. Recently we noticed with dismay that some members of this organisation have gone to the president and assured him that he must contest for election in 2015.

“We were surprised that some of the members that went there are also members of ACF. Particularly two gentlemen. The two gentlemen one belongs to ACF and the other one is in Elders forum. We were surprised because one of them has being very helpful to us.”

The Chairman said the forum was making efforts to reconcile all political camps in the region, including the Northern Governors, for the attainment of the common vision and goals of the region.

“ Also I am saying that during one of our visits to Kano when we saw the Kano State Governor, he suggested that ACF should reconcile the leadership of the north, I think now it is necessary for ACF to intervene on what is happening with regards to Northern governors.

“ We are not talking about Nigerian Governors Forum where 36 people cannot decide who to lead them. We are talking about north where already two governors have withdrawn. It is something that should not be.’’

He decried the continuing insecurity in the region, and pledged that the ACF would continue to work for social, economic and political development of the area.

Presenting the ACF Annual Report, the Secretary General, Col. Musa Shehu (rtd) said the insecurity in the region had  necessitated a tour of the region by some of the members.  - Tribune