The groups said that they had no regrets for their position in the two elections.

On its part, the ACF while justifying its position, said leaders should learn to honour their words.

The spokesman for NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi that the North worked against the former President because he and his party jettisoned the power shift (zoning) policy.

He said the forum never hid the reason for working against Jonathan, as according to him, “We told him (Jonathan) why we worked against him,” he stated.

He added that the forum expected the former President to respect the zoning formula shortly after the death of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua but regrettably, Jonathan and his party reneged on the zoning agreement.

The former Ahmadu Bello University vice-chancellor, stated, “Yes, it is true that Northern Elders’ Forum worked against Jonathan and we told him why.

“They themselves (PDP) admitted that they made a mistake in reneging on the power shift and why what happened happened,” the spokesman said.

On its part, the ACF adduced the same reason for working against the former President and his party, saying Jonathan contested in 2011 and 2015 against the arrangement of his party that zoned the presidency to the North.

The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim-Biu, told one of our correspondents that the former President’s assertion that the North worked against him was odd, considering the “circumstances at that time.” The spokesman admonished Nigerian leaders to always honour agreements they entered into.

He said, “It is on record that Jonathan contested the 2011 and 2015 polls against the zoning arrangement of his party that zoned the presidential slot to the North.

“Therefore, his assertions that Northern leaders and socio-political groups in the North worked against his presidency is rather odd, considering the circumstances at that time.

“Yet the ruling party secured 25 per cent in most states of the North. It may interest you to know that his party has since admitted the oversight in the party winning game plan.”

He added, “This clearly means that leaders should always honour their words with deeds if they want to earn the respect of their followers.”

The former President, in his new book, ‘My Transition Hour’ had said that he battled opposition from Northern leaders and socio-political groups, which felt he was usurping power from the region.

Jonathan said the northern power blocs had tried to deny him his constitutional right of contesting the 2010 presidential election after the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.

According to him, despite the threats and opposition, he was able to win the 2011 election.

The post No regrets working against Jonathan, say ACF, NEF appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The Secretary-General of the ACF, Anthony Sani, in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, stated that the northern body was of the view that there were other presidential candidates of northern extraction from other political parties who might need endorsement too.

According to Sani, the forum cannot afford to ignore the other candidates at the expense of Buhari or Atiku.

He noted that the emergence of both candidates from the northern region was heartening, adding that it would make irrelevant the age-old politics of identity, which sought to promote cleavages of the nation along ethnic, religious and regional lines.

The ACF secretary said this would pave the way for “real issues of genuine concern to ordinary Nigerians.”

He said, “Though Atiku and Buhari have emerged as presidential candidates of the two main political parties, it is important to note that there are other presidential candidates of northern extraction in some other political parties who cannot be ignored.

“Unlike the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, which planned to endorse a yet unidentified candidate, Sani insisted that it was not practicable for the forum to endorse the candidate of a political party.”

He said, “What the ACF does is to enlighten the electorate about the qualities to look for in candidates who can provide purposeful and effective leadership.

“It will further enlighten the public about the party manifestos that can deliver on what most northerners share.

“In the case of the incumbent President, the performance of the administration by way of fair and realistic assessment of progress against plans by the government for the purpose of informed judgment on election day is expected to form part of the enlightenment of voters.”

On his part, the Chairman of the Northern Elders Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said the programmes put forward by Atiku and Buhari would determine which of them the group would support.

He said, “In my opinion, this is not the appropriate time to start making decisions about where the votes will go. Neither of the two candidates has published a clear-cut manifesto or programmes. I am advising that people wait for the programmes put forward by the candidates before we make our final choice.

“I was not even in Nigeria when the conventions of the parties took place. By the provision of the constitution of Nigeria, no organisation, other than a political party, is allowed legally to solicit for votes for any candidate.

“Those who are doing it are doing it against the law. The Peoples Democratic Party did their convention with 13 aspirants and one emerged. The APC did theirs also. It is a matter for Nigerians to make up their minds to decide who they will vote for.”

The post We won’t endorse Buhari, Atiku for 2019 presidency – ACF appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Sani, an elder statesman, however noted that with the level of Obasanjo’s inconsistency, he may change his mind again and withdraw his support for Atiku before 2019.

Sani said Obasanjo as a statesman is expected to be an embodiment of national ideals and moral values for the nation, but the way he has conducted himself by tearing his PDP card and saying he would no more play partisan politics and forming a movement which he said is third force only for him to convert it to a political party of ADC, culminating in the endorsement of former Vice President Atiku reeks of inconsistency which comes with a dearth of vision and conviction required of a statesman.

According to the ACF scribe, “it is democracy in action which at once confirms the saying that the only thing that is permanent in politics is interest; no permanent friends or enemies.

“If you consider what the former President has written about his former Vice President Abubakar Atiku to the extent of saying God would not forgive him if he endorsed Atiku for president, then you can hardly avoid the conclusion that common decency is yet to take root in our democracy, especially when regard is paid to the place of the former president in the order of things in Nigeria.

“President Obasanjo is a statesman who is expected to be an embodiment of national ideals and moral values for the nation. But the way he has conducted himself by tearing his PDP card and saying he would no more play partisan politics and forming a movement which he said is third force only for him to convert it to a political party of ADC, culminating in the endorsement of former VP Atiku reeks of inconsistency that comes with dearth of vision and conviction required of statesmen.

“That may explain why most Nigerians may be curt and dismissive of the former president out of fear that he is just like a reed who can change his mind before the day of elections in 2019.”

Asked whether the North will go with Obasanjo in endorsing Atiku, Sani said: “It is not possible for the whole North to be with former President Obasanjo in that endorsement precisely because the former Vice President is a major challenger of the incumbent President who is also a Northerner and a Hausa/Fulani Muslim.

“As a result, politics of identity as symbolised by ethnicity, religion and of region would give way for those of real issues of real concern to real ordinary Northerners and by extension Nigerians.”

The post Atiku’s endorsement: OBJ suffering from dearth of vision, conviction, says ACF Scribe appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Mrs. Buhari said this in a message on her Twitter handle, @aishambuhari, and her Facebook page, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday.

She said her husband had continued to carry out his constitutional responsibilities as the President without hindrance.

The President’s wife wrote, “I thank all Nigerians for their concern, love and prayers over my husband’s health status.

“I wish to inform everyone that his health is not as bad as it’s being perceived. Meanwhile, he continues to carry out his responsibilities during this period.

“As it may come to your notice, he is meeting with Minister of Justice and GMD of NNPC this evening (Tuesday).”

Meanwhile, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere; the umbrella body for the Igbo, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; and the Nigerian Baptist Convention, on Tuesday, supported the calls for proper management of the health of President Muhammadu Buhari so as not to throw the country into crisis.

The organisations also backed the call on the President to step aside and go on another medical vacation to look after his health as canvassed by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and other activists.

But while the wife of the President has allayed the fears of Nigerians on the health of her husband, the umbrella body of the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum, attacked the former acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, and others for warning Buhari’s handlers to stop exploiting the President’s ailing health for selfish reasons.

The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Muhammadu Ibrahim, said in a statement in Kaduna on Tuesday, that the calls were unnecessary and uncalled for.

According to the ACF, what Nigerians need to do now is to pray for the good health of the President.

The statement read, “Arewa Consultative Forum has observed with concern that some individuals are carelessly making unnecessary remarks pertaining to the health of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“What Nigerians need to do now is to pray for his good health and not to speculate or draw conclusions which will do no one any good.

“ACF advises Nigerians to please pray for the improvement of Mr. President’s health so that he can serve the nation with more vigour.”

On the frosty relationship between the National Assembly and the Presidency, the ACF advised the National Assembly to elevate Nigeria above other considerations.

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