The Arewa Consultative Forum on Monday
rejected the allocation of additional polling units by the Independent
National Election Commission, noting that the exercise was skewed in
favour of the South.
In a communiqué signed by the ACF’s
Secretary-General, Col. John Ubah (retd.), and the Secretary-General of
the Code Group, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, respectively, the northern group
was, however, silent on whether the INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, should resign his position over the creation of additional polling
units, as demanded by a group of Southern leaders, led by a former Vice
President, Alex Ekwueme, Chief Edwin Clark and Senator Femi Okurounmu.
The communiqué stated,“We resolve to
reject the recent allocation of additional polling units by INEC which
deliberately conferred undeserved advantages on states in the South. The
creation of additional polling units should be re-visited, using
standard criteria that INEC is aware of.
“Attempts to blackmail and stampede INEC
into abandoning its hallowed responsibilities to do justice to all
Nigerians, or sacrifice the rights of northern voters are hereby
condemned. The North expects INEC to re-allocate the polling units in
strict compliance with its standard guidelines without fear or favour.
“Reject any excuse to prevent any
citizen from participating in the 2015 general elections. Similarly, any
attempt to secure extension of tenure under the cover of security will
be resisted by people of the North.
“Like all Nigerians, northerners expect
the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to provide a secure
and safe environment for the 2015 elections, and avoid any attempt to
jeopardise the democratic process in Nigeria.”
The ACF was also disturbed by the
insecurity in the North, which was occasioned by the activities of the
Boko Haram insurgents that had crippled socio-economic activities in
some parts of the region.
They blamed the Jonathan-led administration for doing nothing to ameliorate the ugly situation.
Consequently, the North, under the aegis
of the ACF, resolved to summon its past leaders including some former
heads of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar to a
meeting.
The purpose of the meeting, the ACF
said, was to let them realise that they were not influencing government
on the security and economic well-being of the people of the North.
In addition, the communiqué said the ACF
resolved to “request the President of the Senate and Speaker of the
House of Representatives and all legislators from the North to note that
northerners expect them to exercise greater commitment towards ensuring
that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is made more accountable
to northerners and the citizens of Nigeria in the manner it handles
national security and the management of resources of the nation.”
The ACF also, “remind northern governors
that citizens are disappointed over their seeming neglect of the
security and welfare of the people of the North. In the next few weeks,
activities of joint committees will approach governors and involve them
in mobilising citizens towards supporting all measures to improve
security in the North, and will inform northerners of responses of all
our elected leaders.”
