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 can­didature of NEF head of state, saying with Buhari as the presi­dent, 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 emer­gence of General Muhammadu Buhari as a presidential candi­date, who has better credentials to lead Nigeria out of its cur­rent 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 ter­rorizes 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 ap­pear 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 Muham­madu 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 Fo­rum 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 dis­sociate itself from any contrary statement issued by any other member of the Forum. The chair­man is constitutionally empow­ered 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.