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 south in 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 South is 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 and strong. 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 because of 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 came out in the public to say that they don’t know 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 new leadership 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.”
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