The Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders' Forum have disagreed over the North's position on the recommendation of the Senate for a single term of six years for the president, vice-president, state governors and their deputies in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
While the ACF has publicly opposed the single term proposal, the NEF holds the opinion that the North is yet to decide on the matter.
Spokesman of the NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that it was not correct to say the North was opposed to the proposal, because northern leaders were still meeting and would take a position soon in the best interest of the people of the region.
Unongo said what was published in the media was the opinion of one of the leaders of the ACF.
He said, "I saw in the paper that one of the leaders of ACF said the North was opposed to single term. I don't know if that is the position of the ACF. Because the position of the ACF is that they will rationalise their own feelings, what kind of politics and what position the North should take after discussing and harmonising it with us (NEF).
"We have held two meetings already but we have neither harmonised nor agreed on any set of goals yet. In fact, we appointed a committee that is still working on it and it is yet to report back to us. I think what was published was the position of a member of the leadership of ACF. Soon ACF and NEF will rationalise our positions and speak with one voice. I have my opinion, but if at the end of the day the position of the Northern Elders' Forum differs from mine, I will keep mine and adopt the position of the forum."
However, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the position of the forum was in line with the position of the majority of northerners, adding that ACF would not wait for NEF before taking position on issues.
He said, "Nobody should be confused by what a member of NEF has said, considering the memoranda ACF has written and submitted on this same issue to Uwais Panel, to the National Assembly on previous efforts to review the constitution and to the Senate Committee on the current exercise as well as to Ohanaeze and Yoruba Unity Forum when ACF visited them.
"And if NEF is yet to take a position on single tenure, that does not mean ACF is also yet to do so. ACF thinks and believes that the majority of northerners are really opposed to the single term suggestion, considering the disadvantages of single tenure."
Sani added that ACF would not lobby members of the National Assembly to vote against single term recommendation "because they (the representatives) know what is best for the nation and the North and also know what to do."
ACF had last week, through a press statement opposed the recommendation, stating that a single tenure of six years would not guarantee good governance and development but would instead, promote looting of the state's resources with impunity.
The Punch