Polls: We’re for Buhari – ACF, Northern elders

Ambassador Sule Maitama – led Northern Elders Forum (NEF)
, yesterday, formally made its position known on next month’s
2015 presidential race, saying it has endorsed General
Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC) .
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also endorsed the can­
didature of NEF head of state, saying with Buhari as the presi­
dent, Nigeria would be a better place.
Addressing journalists yesterday, Professor Ango Abdullahi,
Secretary of the Forum, said Buhari had better credentials to
lead the country out of its current challenges.
It also warned that any design to prevent the expression of
popular will in the February polls under whatever guise or
excuse, would be resisted by all Nigerians, stressing that the
elections must hold under secured and peaceful conditions.
It stated: “Northern Elders Forum has welcomed the emer­
gence of General Muhammadu Buhari as a presidential candi­
date, who has better credentials to lead Nigeria out of its cur­
rent challenges than President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Our
endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari, in the same
manner Nigerians from all parts of the country are supporting
his candidature, is based on our belief that he and his running
mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, have the integrity,
commitment and experience to resolve our security problems,
fight corruption and fix our economy.
“We welcome the overwhelming nation-wide support they are
enjoying, and we appeal to all Nigerians to support them to a
victory that will end fear, impunity and destitution in our land.
“The forum is aware of sentiments being canvassed by anti-
democratic forces that an unconstitutional Interim National
Government or a similar illegal arrangement should be put in
place to stop the forthcoming elections.
“We want to warn in the strongest terms possible, that any
design to prevent the expression of popular will in February
2015 under whatever guise or excuse, will be rejected and
resisted by all Nigerians.
“The February elections must hold under the most secure and
peaceful conditions possible, and we have no doubt that the
administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is in a
position to guarantee this, if it wishes. We therefore, urge
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to rise to the occasion and
prove to Nigerians and the world that he can provide the
necessary and enabling environment to conduct credible
elections. We expect the President to openly and unequivocally
condemn any sentiments or efforts to truncate the political
and electoral process. The Forum is concerned that violence in
many forms is becoming one of the defining characteristics of
the campaigns and the preparations towards the February
elections. We are concerned that the insurgency which ter­
rorizes some parts of the North East may escalate as we
move nearer to the elections. This must be resisted by our
military, so that every Nigerian who wants to vote will do so
in safety. We are concerned that candidates’ campaigns at all
levels are being attacked, and utterances of many leaders ap­
pear to encourage such attacks. We are concerned that some
parties are being prevented from campaigning openly and
freely in some parts of the country. We are alarmed at the
disposition of many young Nigerians towards the use of
violence in support of candidates or parties. These tendencies
are frightening most Nigerians who just want to exercise their
choices over who governs them from February, in peace.
“The Forum urged President Jonathan and General Muham­
madu Buhari to publicly and jointly initiate activities that will
send strong signals that they abhor electoral violence. We
urge them as well as other presidential, gubernatorial and
national and state assembly candidates to sign statements
urging disciplined, responsible and peaceful campaigning.
The ACF, in a communique issued at the end of its National
Executive Council meeting under the Chairmanship of former
Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie,
expressed worry over the deteriorating security situation in the
country, especially in the North East.
“The Forum reiterates its call on the Federal Government to
step up offensive attack on the insurgents and bring an end to
this unnecessary wanton destruction of lives and property.
“That the NEC chairman’s statement on the issue of the Fo­
rum supporting a Northern candidate in the person of General
Muhammadu Buhari is hereby reaffirmed. It is the policy of
the ACF to support any Northerner in any presidential election.
“The ACF therefore, wishes to reaffirm that statement and dis­
sociate itself from any contrary statement issued by any other
member of the Forum. The chairman is constitutionally empow­
ered to direct the affairs of the Forum in a manner that is in
consonance with its aims, objectives and policies and also
project the image of the Forum at all times.
“Finally the Forum wishes to refer to the statement made by
the INEC chairman creating doubts on the possibility of
conducting elections in the areas affected by the current
insurgency, and reiterate its earlier statement that 2015
general elections must hold in all the nooks and crannies of
Nigeria. Internally Displaced Persons must be allowed to
exercise their civic responsibilities. INEC and the Federal
Government must ensure that the elections are successfully
conducted. No one should be disenfranchised.
“The ACF lamented the spate of violence with consequent loss
of lives and property of many Nigerian who have been
dislocated and made refugees in their own country and
neighbouring countries.
“Incidentally, only this morning (yesterday) the people of Biu
in Borno State were viciously attacked, however, we
understand that the Military was able to repel the insurgents
after heavy exchange of fire. The Forum therefore, commends
the gallantry of the Military and sympathises with the victims
of this latest carnage.