Arewa chieftain, Sani, cautions Jonathan, Buhari against regional, ethnic sentiments in campaign

APPARENTLY worried by the campaign activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, Northern Elders chieftain, Anthony Sani, has decried the regional and ethnic sentiments linked to them.

   Sani, in a statement, said that unless the two candidates discard all primordial issues that can pitch Nigerians against themselves in their campaigns, the nation would be worse for it.

   He said: “I believe any patriotic Nigerian would agree with me that to give the presidential contest regional coloration is not healthy. Moreover, the constitution does not allow it; the law expects a President to be acceptable across the nation instead of a president who presides over a divided people.”

   According to Sani, both the PDP and APC presidential candidates were expected to raise issues that would bring Nigerians together rather than incite regional and ethnic differences in their campaigns.

   Said he: “In their campaign teams, you would find individuals across the regions. We expect the political parties and their presidential candidates to tell Nigerians how they would address the problems of insecurity posed by not only the insurgence but also armed robberies and kidnappings as well as piracy.

   “We also expect the political parties and their candidate to also tell Nigerians how, if elected, they will combat corruption. Mr. president was elected on the basis of hope and sentiments in 2011, but this time around the emphasis would be on his performance in the past six years.”