The apex northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, on Wednesday denied the allegation that it worked against the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan during the March 28 presidential election.
President Jonathan, who was the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, lost to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress.
Mr. Buhari was endorsed for the presidential election by the ACF the same way other socio-political and cultural organizations, such as the South-South Peoples Assembly, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, among others, endorsed Mr. Jonathan.
The Forum, which was reacting to a statement credited to National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh that the ACF sabotaged the chances of President Jonathan, described the allegation as most unfortunate.
“ACF urges Nigerian to support and cooperate with the President- elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and his team to ensure the smooth transition and development of our young democracy and national unity”, ACF said.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, on Wednesday in Kaduna, the pan-northern organization described Umeh’s statement as uncharitable and unfortunate.
ACF said, “The attention of ACF has been drawn to a publication titled ‘Northern leaders conspired to work against Jonathan’s re-election’, which appeared on-line and in some newspapers on the April 15, 2015, that was credited to the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh.
“The statement by Chief Umeh that all ‘Northern leaders’ conspired to sabotage the re-election bid of President Jonathan was unfortunate, reckless and divisive in form and delivery.
“Infact, ACF would not have responded to such unguarded and unwarranted statement by Chief Umeh if he had directed his anger at the President’s political party or his campaign organisation.
“Chief Umeh’s reference to northern leaders in the interview and even his unpalatable statement on Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, one of the most respected Northern leaders was uncharitable and provocative, hence our reaction”.
The group called on the APGA chairman and other politicians to show decorum and civility in their utterances.
“ACF calls upon Chief Umeh as a political leader that has followers all over Nigeria to show decorum and civility in his utterances on national issues.
“ACF will not accept such careless and divisive statements from people who claimed to be political leaders of Nigeria”, it said.
Meanwhile, the Forum asked politicians in the country to emulate President Jonathan’s sportsmanship in the just concluded elections.
