The Arewa Consultative Forum, AFC, has vehemently rejected the one-term promise by the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi.
The Forum also passed a poor performance verdict on
President Bola Tinubu-led government after three years in office.
ACF, a quasi-political and socio-cultural association
promoting the political interest of Northern Nigeria, said Obi’s promises do
not only undermine the nation’s democracy, but are also unconstitutional.
The ACF’s stance adds to the growing debate over the NDC
presidential candidate’s pledge and what it means for regional power dynamics
ahead of the next general elections.
Obi had vowed to serve only a single term of four years if
elected in 2027, stating that four years is sufficient for a sincere leader to
positively transform the country.
In an interview on national TV, the former governor of
Anambra State insisted that he would serve only one-term in office and handover
to the North, “even with a gun to my head.”
However, in an interview with Daily post on Sunday, the ACF
National Secretary, Tukur Baba said such pledges were very unnecessary.
According to him, “such a promise is totally unnecessary,
even as a campaign material, it is still very unnecessary.
“Firstly, such a power shift is not a constitutional
provision. It is a matter for political parties to decide. Another leading
presidential candidate had mentioned that and that is not correct.
“Secondly, it is very undemocratic, we cannot be practicing
democracy and are putting all kinds of road blocks. That is not democracy.
“Thirdly, when you are rotating power from one geo-political
zone to another, tomorrow, it may become a religious affair, they will come out
and say it is time for so so religion.
“We have at least four hundred ethnic groups in this country
and three major religious groups. The more we stick to the power shift, the
more we embrace division among us.
“Why will Peter Obi make such a promise? Supposing he
becomes the president of Nigeria and performs excellently well in his first
tenure, would it be fair for Nigerians, North or South, men or women to say Obi
will not go again because he made promises even though he is good?
“By him promising one term means he is likely not going to
do his best. He is being unfair to the electorates. All we need in this country
is just good governance.
“We want accountability, fair representation and good
welfare of the citizens. Welfare includes security, school, health and
anti-corruption drives.
“If Peter Obi comes to power and after two years we begin to
see results, it will be unfair for him to say he only wants four years.
“Imagine if in two years Obi is able to tame banditry, Boko
Haram and other terrorist groups across the country, then he said he wants to
leave after four years, that will be unfair to those who elected him.
“If I’m to sit down with Peter Obi, I will tell him, ‘you
promised one term and then return power to another region, that is being
irresponsible’.
“Until we abolish tribalism and region-based politics, we
may not go far as a country. We are marching backwards in reverse order”.
ACF has no preferred presidential candidate
The ACF spokesperson, however, clarified that the
socio-cultural organization has no preferred policy candidate, stating that its
duty is to analyze and allow electorates to decide.
According to him, the organization has “no tradition of
coming out to support or oppose any candidate or political parties in the
country openly.
“Rather, our job is to analyze and at the end of the day,
allow the electorates to decide. Unlike other organizations in the country, we
have over three hundred tribes in the North so we cannot afford to say that the
North has one preferred candidate or party.
“However, the North has just one interest and the interest
is different from the interest of any other citizens of the country and that is
good governance, security and good economy”.
Tinubu’s government shambolic
The ACF also took a swipe at the President Bola Tinubu-led
administration, describing it as shambolic.
Tukur Baba, who said that President Tinubu has not done well
in the area of security also slammed the All Progressives Congress, APC-led
government over the ravaging economic hardship.
He lamented that the level of killings, kidnapping and other
activities of bandits and terrorists have “continued to spread” across the
nation.
He noted that if President Tinubu “is doing well, the impact
would have been felt but the issue has continued to expand until the Americans
came recently.
“Bello Tunji is still in the North East, bragging on social
media. Tinubu reshuffled security architecture yet no results.
“Has he ever ordered any of the security chiefs ‘bring me
the head of so so bandit or terrorist dead or alive?’
“Tinubu has isolated the Aso Villa from the national grid
but you and I are paying for power that we did not see.
“Prices of things are going up yet we have taxes everywhere.
They keep bragging of low taxes for lower income earners but even razor blade
that you buy, there is VAT in it.
“The Lagos-Calabar highway, we don’t know what is happening
there, the so-called Lagos-Sokoto road, how much of it has been done? Where is
the progress? Tinubu and his group, who asked for democracy are the ones
sabotaging the principles of democracy today.
“The middle class has been totally wiped out. I am terribly
disappointed in President Tinubu. This regime has taken more loans than all the
previous governments put together and you and I are going to pay for it.
“So, generally, I will say the performance has been
shambolic.
“Has their policies impacted citizens, oh, yes, but
negatively”.
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