WE NEVER SAID WE WILL MAKE NIGERIA UNGOVERNABLE FOR JONATHAN - ACF BY EXECUTINAL.
(m): 11:34am On Dec 01, 2011.
Anthony Sani the Spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has
denied that any of its members ever said they would make Nigeria
ungovernable for president Jonathan.
It would be recalled that Alhaji Lawal Kaita a prominent member of the ACF did make the following statement in October of 2010;
"anything short of a Northern President is tantamount to stealing our
presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses
incumbency powers to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he
will be frustrated out"
But today, when the ACF held a press
conference in Kaduna to announce it Peace and Unity Conference,
journalist present asked its spokesman Anthony Sani about the statement
by Lawal Kaita, one of ACF's member, Sani categorically denied the
statement and blamed "Southerners" for misinforming the public.
The comments by Sani are below;
"Someone is engage in suicide bombing and you said he is being
sponsored by Northern leaders, to achieve what? Southerners are the ones
saying so. If Jonathan fails it is Nigerians, and we are not praying
for him to fail. We want him to succeed and if he fails don’t say it is
North.
Somebody even said we are sponsoring Boko Haram, how can we sponsor Boko Haram? What benefits?
Why will a Northern leader sponsor Boko Haram? People who are in
terrorism are never sponsored, they are people with the highest
conviction, and they believe there is something to gain in dying than to
live
Nigerians have spoken, they have elected President
Jonathan, and now with the benefits of their judgment if he fails. I
have heard it from the South and I ask them let them tell us who said it
from the North. I then posit that let’s even take it, the kidnapping in
Igbo land does that mean they are making the country ungovernable? Do I
now take the robbery in Oyo and say they are making Nigeria
ungovernable or those carrying guns in the South? This is not fair and
Nigerians problems are not peculiar to one region alone.
We are
not aware of any statement from any Northern elder who has said that
they will make the country ungovernable for Jonathan, I am not aware let
him rule and not make excuse to fail and blame it on Northerners, go
and rule and when you failed don’t blame the North. Anybody that will
say they will make the country ungovernable is not a democrat, and we
have addressed the president many times, where are you getting all
these? I want to know who said he will make the country ungovernable,
once election have taken place, and the people have spoken they pay the
price of their own judgment, they reap the benefit of their own
judgment"
Afterwards, Sani, on behalf of the ACF released the following press statement;
#PRESS_CONFERENCE
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have the honor and privilege to address you gentlemen of the media
and by extention the public on the desirability by Arewa Consultative
Forum to organize the Arewa Conference On Peace And Unity on the 5th and
6th of December,2011,under the chairmanship of General Yakubu Gowon.The
Conference will hold in the Indoor Sports Hall within Murtala Square,
Kaduna.
President Jonathan is expected to be the Special Guest of
honor, while Mr Vice President Namadi Sambo will be the Special Host.
The Chief Host is naturally the host Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna
state.
The theme of the Conference is Peace And Unity For
Development, and is aimed at bringing northern leaders-be they
political, religious, community and even from the business
community-together to talk things over for peaceful coexistence
associated with genuine reconciliation that go with genuine forgiveness
necessary for any socioeconomic development.
It is a common place
knowledge that our nation is facing difficult times characterized by
spate of kidnappings, militant activism, ethno-religious crises and
recent high incidences of bombings by the Boko Haram.Apart from the
untold hardship by way of loss of lives and properties caused the
people, such problems of insecurity place serious sand bags on the path
of socioeconomic development of not only the North but across the
nation. This is because, according to Prof B Akinyemi, Nigeria can be
likened to a big river being fed by tributaries. And when one or more of
the tributaries is poisoned, the whole river becomes contaminated.
Given the trite that matter of peaceful coexistence which goes with
national security is a collective responsibility and not that of
government alone, ACF leaders, along with other northern leaders, have
thought it wise to organize the peace conference as part of its own
contributions towards attaining permanent peace not only in northern
parts of the country but also across the nation.
This is in
recognition of the UN Resolution which expects leaders of people to
address the underlying concerns of those who engage in communal violence
and acts of terrorism. This is more so when consideration is given to
the reality that most of those who get involved in acts of terrorism
believe they have nothing to lose on earth, and more to gain in death.
That is to say, only the highest of commitments can inspire terrorism.
That may explain the U N Resolution 1963 of 2010,which believes the best
approach in containing acts of terrorism is to consciously address the
underlying causes. The experiences of U S in Vietnam, Iraq and in
Afghanistan must have informed such UN Resolution.
Some of the
speakers expected to speak on the theme of the Conference, which borders
on the forces of conflicts and disunity, as well as collapse of
national ideals, moral values and social contract among groups and among
individuals ,include Prof J I Elaigwu, Prof.J.Aminu, Bishop Mathew
Hassan Kukah and J B. Daudu of The NBA. Those to chair the sessions are
General T Y Danjuma,HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed
and Justice S.Belgore. Considering the adverse effects of communal
conflicts and internecine violence by way of untold hardship from loss
of lives and properties, and the important need to put a permanent stop
at communal conflicts and acts of terrorism ,as well as disabuse the
minds of those who believe it will be just another conference, ACF plans
to put up a mechanism for implementations of the ensuing resolutions of
the conference by those with executive authorities to do so. From the
foregoings, it is not out of place for ACF to appeal to all stake
holders and public spirited individuals across the North and the country
in general to support the letter and spirit of the conference.ACF hopes
its success has the potential to bring about lasting peace in the North
and indeed across the country for common good. This is necessary
because peaceful coexistence is a prerequisite condition for any
meaningful stride in socioeconomic and political development of any
society.
Our interdependence are so wide and deep that no divorce
is possible. And so working hard to overcome the differences that
divide the people is not matter of option but tasks that must be done.
And since progress can come from change as a result of robust discourse,
ACF believes it is very possible that the resolutions of the Arewa
Conference On Peace And Unity can bring about situations where politics
,economics and morality or common decency, can intersect productively
for collective good.
Thank you.
Anthony N Z Sani.
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