ACF denies Endorsing Buhari
There appears to be some discord among members of the Arewa Consultative Forum as they seem divided over the emergence of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) and President Goodluck Jonathan as presidential candidates of the two major political parties for the 2015 election..
According to the Chairman of the ACF, former Inspector-General of Police, Ahaji Ibrahim Coomasie, in a congratulatory message to the former head of state on Saturday saidthe northern forum had endorsed the Buhari as their presidential candidate for the 2015 Presidency.
However, Publicity Secretary of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Forum, Alhaji Salisu Garba held a press conference on Sunday, saying Coomasie was on his own as no member of the NEC had met to endorse Buhari as the sole candidate of the North for the 2015 presidency.
Garba however insisted that until the ACF executive released its official position, the issue of endorsement of any presidential candidate for the 2015 elections should be put to rest.
He said, “As a responsible body, the ACF should summon the courage to examine the merits or otherwise of each of the northern candidates contesting for the Presidency on the platforms of other political parties before pronouncing its stand.
He said: “This will be seen to be fair and just; not only to the candidates but to the people of the North. Since the ACF has made a categorical stand to support any candidate from the North for the Presidency, justice, equity and fairness demand that all the candidates from the North should be carefully assessed before a choice is made for the region.
“The ACF is made up of men and women from different political groupings in the country, and that is more so why the ACF should be positively critical in supporting a candidate. It is, however, doubtful if the ACF policy and decision-making organs- the Forum’s National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee and its Board of Trustees-ever sat down to examine the personal and political merits of each candidate and articulate position to support a particular one.
“Based on the forgoing, it is apt to believe that the respected former Inspector-General of Police, Coomassie, was quoted out of context as the ACF executives did not sit to categorically endorse Buhari per se.
“It should be advised therefore that until the ACF executives release its official position, the issue of endorsement of any particular presidential candidate for 2015 elections should be put to rest for now.”
