ACF Urges Jonathan, Buhari To Address How They Will Combat Insurgency, Economic Woes

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed disappointment over the presidential campaigns of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

The pan-northern socio-political organization said the campaigns of the presidential candidates of both political parties centered on personal attacks instead of addressing how they intend putting an end to the security challenges and economic woes bedeviling the nation.

The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibrahim, who articulated the Forum’s position while speaking with journalists yesterday in Kaduna State, also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure the February 2015 general elections are free, fair and credible as Nigerians won’t condone any excuses.

He said: “The position of ACF is that all political parties should conduct themselves and their campaigns on issues and as much as possible they should avoid thuggery, threat and disruption of peace.

“The parties should conduct their campaigns on issues of security, economy, peaceful coexistence and the stability of Nigeria. These are the issues that ACF is emphasizing.

“We are confident that there will be peaceful elections. Nigerians have learnt lessons from what happened in 2011. The politicians are overheating the polity unnecessarily. But Nigerians have learnt their lessons and you can see now that Nigerians are not talking about tribe or religion or ethnicity. They are just talking about insecurity, the economy and peaceful coexistence.

“The present conduct of party campaign activities is typical about Nigerians. Once the issues settle down, you will find that the dust will settle”.

On the upcoming polls, the ACF spokesman said: “INEC officials had adequate time to prepare for these elections and they even told us they are ready. So, we don’t have to start doubting them. We have less that 40 days to elections, so nobody can come out and tell us now that he is not ready when we have four years to prepare for it”.