‘Arewa will not support Jonathan’s 2015 candidacy’

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 O'Odua group warns Yoruba leaders against alliance with Hausa/Fulani

WITH an accusation that President Goodluck Jonathan was employing divide and rule against the North in order to actualise his ambition, the Arewa elders said yesterday that the region would not support his candidacy for the 2015 presidency.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) spoke during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kaduna Thursday to review the year's events and chart the way forward for the region.

In another development, self-determination groups in the South West have urged Yoruba leaders to be more concerned with the restructuring of the country and pay less attention to presenting a presidential candidate for the 2015 general election.

The group also warned Yoruba leaders of being circumspect in forming political alliance with any ethnic group that does not believe in the restructuring of the country to reflect true federalism.

In a statement in Ibadan on Wednesday, the O'Odua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC) said that winning the 2015 election should less concern the region than restructuring the country. It noted that, "elections are short-term solutions while restructuring of the country offers an enduring solution to the contradictions of Nigeria, a country that continues to stifle the populace."

Meanwhile, the ACF National Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, drew attention to the activities of some prominent Arewa elders, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd) and Senator John Wash Pam, who were alleged to have told Jonathan that the North was backing his 2015 presidential ambition.   He said: "It is very sad that the Presidency has employed divide and rule against the North. It is very glaring because we noticed with dismay that some members of this organisation have gone to the President and assured him that he must contest the 2015 election.

"I am speaking particularly of two gentlemen, Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd), and Senator John Wash Pam. We were surprised that really they have gone to see the President. We have gone with Onoja to every meeting we have held, and for him to turn round to say the President must contest in 2015, using the word, 'must' is unacceptable."

Besides, they remarked that the divide and rule tactics employed by President Jonathan against the North would be counter-productive to his political interest in 2015.

Mohammed warned that the North would not compromise its political interest, as he advised all Arewa leaders: "It is necessary to come together for common vision, goal, strategy needed to negotiate from the position of strength and secure a favourable camp in politics."

However, he urged politicians to adhere strictly to the directives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on issues of 2015 elections, just as he asked INEC to make arrangements to conduct all elections in one day to guarantee free and fair election in 2015.

He said: "We have noticed really that for free and fair elections in 2015, we think there should be only one election day. We also feel that it is going to be cheaper."

Meanwhile, a report by the ACF Secretary General, Col. Shehu (rtd), read: "There is nothing much to change in the structure of our federation unless we give in to the short-sighted agitators pressing for the break-up of Nigeria to enable them have resource control."

In a statement by ONAC Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ayoola Ajayi, the body warned that never had history produced any meaningful alliance between the Hausa-Fulani in North and the Yoruba nation, stating that Chief Obafemi Awolowo did not at any time attempt an alliance with the largely reactionary and feudalistic North.

It added: "The alliance of the Yoruba people should be with progressive and pro-restructuring forces in the middle-belt, the South-South and the South-East. The Hausa-Fulani North will forever repel any attempt to restructure Nigeria. Our alliance should not be with feudalists.

"More than any time before, Yoruba people must speak up and ensure the race is not sacrificed on the altar of northern political interests."

Nevertheless, it cautioned the Niger Delta on the consequences of supporting a presidential candidate based on sentiment.



The Guardian