Northern Alternative Forum Pledges Allegiance to President Goodluck Jonathan
The Northern Alternative Forum, NAF, has declared its full support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid, saying he has done well by appointing Northerners in key positions in his administration.
The chairman of NAF, Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim, said this in Abuja on Tuesday, amidst opposition by the Northern Elders Forum, and the Arewa Consultative Forum, that said the president has done nothing for the region since his resumption in office.
Ibrahim said: “Despite all these hues and cries that northerners will not vote for President Jonathan during the next election, I can tell you confidently that he will get massive supports and votes from that region.
“The number of appointments given to the north under this dispensation is unprecedented in the current democratic dispensation.
“The Vice President is a northerner. The Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and the Inspector-General of Police among others are northerners.
“How on earth do you expect these people to fold their arms and see the President losing in their region. He will get massive votes there. We voted for President Jonathan in 2011 based on credibility and we will continue to support him.
“We are solidly behind the President and our forum was the first to endorse him for second term before other groups started joining us.
“It is our belief that when the people of the North supports him in 2015, people of other regions will also support us when our time comes.”
He also urged Nigerians to support Jonathan in order for peace to return to the North East and all other parts of the country.
