Field only Northerners, ACF tells PDP, others

Field only Northerners, ACF tells PDP, others

Headlines Aug 11, 2010

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By Emeka Mamah
KADUNA—THE Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday made a u-turn, asking all the political parties in the country to field northerners as presidential candidates in the 2011 elections.

Despite its earlier decision to distance itself from zoning because the issue is not a constitutional matter, ACF in its new position said the practice of zoning was in the interest of justice and fair play in the country.

Zanfara state delegation during a visit to the Aso Rock

Delivering his opening address entitled “Viability of ACF as a vehicle of northern hegemony and its limit” during its round-table conference on August 5, 2010, National Chairman of the Forum, Gen. I. B. M. Haruna, had emphasised that the constitution of the association did not allow it to engage in partisan politics, hence it would not dabble into the controversies surrounding zoning.

Haruna had noted that there was little or nothing that ACF could do as the matter fell within the purview of a political party which was designing how to share power as it deemed fit.

Justifying his stand on the issue, Haruna said: “In as much as recent political events have given rise to questioning the role, purpose and limits to the role of the ACF in the political ferment engendered by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in post Obasanjo’s regime and the passing away of President Umaru Yar’Adua, the current debates on zoning was not the same with the Obasanjo’s Constitutional Reform Agenda which was to promote his third term agenda and subsequent self succession.”

According to him then, the issue the later day zoning and rotation (PDP agreement), can be enforced by the PDP or amended by them as they had done in the past.

PDP zoning and rotation

He said: “PDP, zoning and rotation do not call for any amendment of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria or even the Electoral Law though it is the custom of our political practice sharing power. It, therefore, remains in the purview and political perspective of a political party to share power as they deem fit in adopting as their tactics for cohesion of their party, for promoting federal character, national unity and party loyalty.

“Therefore, the ACF as an umbrella body of the historical Northern Region can only fulfill its purpose as set out in its Constitution.”

However, in a three paragraph communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the Forum which was presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, General Jerry Useni, in Kaduna, yesterday, ACF stated that its support for zoning was because, this would ensure the preservation of the principle of federal character in the country.

The communiqué read: “The emergency joint meeting of ACF took place on August 10, 2010 in the conference Hall of the Forum’s office in Kaduna. The meeting was well attended and resolved to issue the following communique:

“It was resolved that all political parties should endeavour to field northern candidates for the 2011 presidential elections.

“This is very important and necessary in order to ensure the principle of federal character, which has become part and parcel of our political culture. All political parties and public organizations should continue to uphold the practice of zoning in the interest of social justice, equity, fairness and stability of a united Nigeria.

“The meeting also commended the (Federal) Government for appointing credible persons, such as Professor Attahiru Jega, at the helms of affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. These have gone in no small measure to rekindle the hope and confidence of Nigerians in INEC’s capacity to conduct free and fair elections.

Furthermore, the meeting urged the government to provide INEC with all the necessary support for the 2011 elections.”