BY EMEKA MAMAH
KADUNA — The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over its good performance in the conduct of last Saturday’s National Assembly election, saying this resulted in the non-violence recorded across the country following results of the poll.

National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, said the peaceful conduct of the election had also shown that Nigerians were ready to make use of their democratic rights.

On the feasibility of the north producing the presidency in 2011, Sani said the decision was now left for the whole country as it was their right to determine whether they still need  zoning/ rotation or not.

The ACF chieftain spoke as about 15 northern political groups, yesterday, met in Kaduna to fine-tune their strategies to ensure that the area votes massively for President Goodluck Jonathan during Saturday’s election.

The groups said the South-South region had supported the North over the years, adding that now was the payback time for the North as a way of maintaining the cordial relationship between the two geo-political zones.

It was learnt that the meeting became necessary following fears in some quarters that the north may not achieve its aim of producing the 2011 president following last week’s parliamentary election which saw PDP winning more seats than others.

Another chieftain of the ACF, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed who made this known in an interview with Vanguard, said that the meeting was held to map out plans that would enable the groups carry out a house to house campaign on the need to support Jonathan in the north.

Mohammed who was the former national secretary, ACF Political Committee, said that the political education was necessary because the eventual withdrawal of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and the former vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from the presidential race has placed the north at a disadvantage in the coming election hence, the need for the north to “vote overwhelmingly as a face saving measure” for Jonathan.

According to Mohammed, “the groups working for Jonathan were emboldened by a recent statement credited to Gen. Babangida that the future leadership of the north, nay the country belongs to the youth”.

He said that “Babangida had seen that neither the former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari who is the most popular candidate in the race from the north nor his counterpart in the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu can defeat President Jonathan before making a U_ turn on his earlier statements that the Nigerian youth cannot lead the nation to greatness” adding that the north needed to groom those to lead the country from 2015. He said Jonathan was still within the age bracket of leaders who can be said to be youthful.

“We have gone to mechanic workshops, mosques after Friday prayers, student leaders, churches, Islamic scholars and other religious leaders as well as even okada riders to talk to them on the need to vote for Jonathan because majority of Nigerians are now embracing the dynamics of peace, unity, equity and equal opportunity for all.

“Nigerians no longer care about where their leader comes from. All they want now is who will bring food on the tables”.

Mohamed further pointed out that the activities of the 15 groups was being coordinated by the Centre for Economic Efficiency and Political Development, CEEPOD, stressing that it was “the opinion of most northern elite that Buhari who is already approaching 70 needed rest after serving the country in various capacities for over 40 years.

However, Mr Sani said, “from the information reaching us, the turnout of voters was very impressive. It showed that Nigerians are determined to make judicious use of their democratic rights and elect leaders of their choice; and to demonstrate that power resides not in government houses but with the people.

However, Sani further said, ‘’from the information reaching us, the turnout of voters was very impressive. It showed that Nigerians are determined to make judicious use of their democratic rights and elect leaders of their choice; and to demonstrate that power resides not in government houses but with the people.

“That is how it should be. There were less incidences of violence across the country which underscores the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was transparent and conducted a largely free, fair and credible election.

“That means that there were no perceived injustices which hitherto are the usual causes of violence during elections. All these are healthy signs for our democracy.

‘’ We hope that subsequent elections will witness improvements over those of last Saturday’s.
“The answer to the question of whether the North can get the presidency in 2011 is not for ACF but for Nigerians who have the final say.

“This is because the cases for rotation/zoning and against have been made by the contending parties who cannot pass judgement on their submission.

“Only Nigerians in a free, fair and credible election, can pass the judgement on whether Nigeria still needs zoning and rotation or not.”