Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

ACF lauds Obasanjo’s support for Atiku’s presidential bid

By Saxone Akhaine, Abdulganiyu Alabi (Kaduna) Azimazi Momoh Jimoh (Abuja), Nnamdi Akpa (Abakaliki) and Lawrence Njoku (Enugu)
15 October 2018   |   3:47 am
Leaders of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have lauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s support for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.The leaders dissociated themselves from the comments by the Secretary General of ACF, Anthony Sani, which had faulted the endorsement.

H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria at #AfreximAM18

•Group disowns secretary general’s comment on former president
•PDP’s trustees seek role in campaign •Abaribe hails choice of running mate
•Youths decry southeast leaders’ stance on Obi •Okechukwu cautions against choice of ex-VP

Leaders of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have lauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s support for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.The leaders dissociated themselves from the comments by the Secretary General of ACF, Anthony Sani, which had faulted the endorsement.

The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Muhammad Biu, said this in a statement.Sani had described Obasanjo as suffering from a dearth of vision, conviction and consistency that are required of a statesman.

But the publicity secretary said: “It is not in the character of ACF to attack the views, or opinion of former presidents and elder statesmen of Obasanjo’s status on national issues in such uncomplimentary manner.”He said Obasanjo, as an elder statesman is entitled to his opinion on all issues, including democracy, as he had previously endorsed presidential candidates.He added that the Sani’s comments were his personal views as an individual. Biu explained: “For the avoidance of doubt, that ACF official statements on any matter come through and from the National Publicity Secretary only.”

Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Board of Trustees (BoT) has asked to play a role in the presidential campaign of the ex-vice president.Chairman of the board, Senator Walid Jibrin, who canvassed the position in Abuja yesterday, also advised Atiku to include youths and women in his campaign team. Jibrin advised the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to always work with the BoT for the smooth running of its affairs.

Also yesterday, Chairman of the South East Senate Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, commended the choice of former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, as Atiku’s running mate. In a statement in Abuja, Abaribe described Obi as an embodiment of discipline and positive attributes in good governance.“The ticket of the duo of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Obi represents the finest choice available and one that reflects the high pitch push by Nigerians for total economic and political reforms.

“The present hopeless situation of fear, despondency and hunger in the land, which is occasioned by a seemingly rudderless and clueless government requires experienced and steady hands in the saddle,” he said. In a related development, some groups have berated the comments by some southeast leaders that they were not consulted before Obi was chosen as running mate.

The groups are Igbo Students Forum, World Igbo Youth Council, and Southeast Women Professionals. National President of Igbo Students Forum, Chidera Utuchay spoke on their behalf, during a visit to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide.Also, National Coordinator of South East Revival Group (SERG), Willy Ezugwu described those against the choice of Obi as selfish and counterproductive.But, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu advised Ndigbo and indeed, Nigerians not to be swayed by Atiku’s emergence.

Okechukwu, who spoke in Enugu yesterday said: “all that glitters is not gold,’ adding ‘the restructuring and quick fix measures so far offered by Atiku are good, but Nigerians should be careful before they jump into a one chance bus.”He said it was better to re-elect Presaident Muhammadu Buhari who had silently commenced restructuring of Nigeria through his Road, Rail, Agricultural and Power, (RRAP) projects.He advised Ndigbo to take Atiku’s promise to vacate office in 2023 after a tenure of four years with a ‘pinch of salt’, bearing in mind that political promises were hardly kept in the country.

0 Comments