The Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Sule-led Northern Elders’ Forum, and the
Arewa Consultative Forum, have endorsed the All Progressives Congress’
Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and his running
mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for the February election.
The NEF and the ACF in separate statements in Kaduna on Wednesday said
that they would ask all northerners and indeed Nigerians to support Buhari
because he was a better candidate than President Jonathan Goodluck, the
candidate of the People Democratic Party in the February 14, presidential
election.
According to a communique signed by the ACF National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, the Forum noted that it was part of its policy to
support northerner in any presidential election.
However, the NEF, led by a former Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji
Ibrahim Coomassie, said the group would back the Buhari/Osinbajo
for the Presidency because “Buhari is a better candidate, compared with
President Goodluck Jonathan in moving the nation forward.”
The elders, however, warned against any attempt to form an interim
government, as being canvassed by some people in the country. They said that
any design to disenfranchise Nigerians in the next month’s elections would be
rejected.
While addressing journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Secretary of
the NEF and former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof.
Ango Abdullahi, appealed to Nigerians to support the Buhari/Osinbajo
Presidency.
He said a vote for Buhari/Osinbajo would end the fear, impunity and
destitution characterised by the Jonathan administration in the country.
Abdullahi said, “Our endorsement of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.),
in the same manner all Nigerians from all parts of the country are supporting
his candidature, is based on our belief that he and his running mate, Prof.Yemi
Osinbajo, have the integrity, commitment and experience to resolve our security
problems, fight corruption and fix our economy.”
Speaking further, the former vice chancellor said they were aware of the
issue of an Interim National Government being muted in some quarters. He warned
that “such illegal arrangement” should not be allowed to truncate the February
elections.
Also, declaring the ACF support for Buhari in a communique signed by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, after its meeting in
Kaduna, the Forum warned against the alleged plan by the Federal Government to
disenfranchise some Nigerians in the next election.
The ACF expressed concern over the continued insecurity in the country,
particularly, in the North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
The forum commended the gallantry of the Nigerian military for repelling
attack of the Islamic insurgents on Biu, in Borno State.
The Northern body reiterated its call on the Federal Government to step
up offensive on the Boko Haram sect and ensure that all internally displaced persons
were allowed to vote.
Tags
Politics