AREWA Consultative Forum (ACF) Secretary-General Chief Anthony Sani has described the last Sunday’s endorsement of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as an exercise that may not affect the outcome of the presidential elections.
Sani said the endorsement by factions of Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Pan-Niger Delta Forum, the Middle Belt Forum and the Northern Elders Forum was nothing new, as all the groups, excluding the Northern Elders Forum, endorsed the PDP presidential candidate in the 2015 general elections, yet the APC prevailed.
According to the ACF Secretary-General, “What is new in this endorsement is the fact that only faction of Afenifere, faction of Ohanaeze, and faction of Northern Elders Forum are actually involved. As a result, the endorsement may not affect the outcomes of the election significantly, since factions cannot possibly represent the whole, let alone to represent the regions, which the platforms profess to represent.
“Many media houses have been asking for reactions on the endorsement of PDP’s presidential candidate in the person of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by factions of Afenifere, a faction of Ohanaeze, PAN Niger Delta Forum, the Middle Belt Forum and the Northern Elders Forum.
“We thought there was no need for the reactions because it was nothing new, but because of the generated public interest, we react as follows:
“The endorsement is nothing new because apart from NEF faction led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, all the other socio-cultural groups in the endorsement actually endorsed and worked for PDP in 2015, yet the APC prevailed in the elections…
“As a result, the endorsement may not affect the outcomes of the election significantly, since factions cannot possibly represent the whole let alone to represent the regions, which the platforms profess to represent.
“You may wish to know that ACF, which is the umbrella body for the North, does not share the views promoted by a faction of Northern Elders Forum led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi.
“The endorsement of President Buhari by about 71 Generals has dispelled the rumours bandied about that retired Generals have ganged up to unseat President Buhari electorally.”
(The Nation)