The Arewa Consultative Forum, AFC, has rejected in strong terms the one term promise by the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi.
The Forum was also reported to have delivered a poor performance verdict on the President Bola Tinubu-led government after three years in office.
ACF, a socio-cultural and quasi-political association that promotes the political interest of Northern Nigeria, said Obi’s promises are unconstitutional and do not only undermine nation’s democracy.
The ACF’s position contributes to the growing debate on the pledge of the NDC presidential candidate and its implications for regional power dynamics ahead of the next general elections.
Obi was said to have vowed to serve only one term of four years if elected in 2027, saying that four years is enough for a sincere leader to change the country for the better.
In an interview on national TV, the ex-governor of Anambra state maintained that he would serve only a single term in office and handover to the North, “even with a gun to my head.”
But in an exclusive interview with Sunday, ACF National Secretary, Tukur Baba said such pledges are very unnecessary.
He said, “such a promise is totally unnecessary, even as a campaign material, it is still very unnecessary.
“First, such a transfer of power is not a constitutional provision. Its a decision of the political parties. Another of the leading presidential candidates had said that and that is not correct.
“Secondly, it is very undemocratic, we cannot be practicing democracy and we are putting all kinds of road blocks. This is not a 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 religions. The more we cling to the shift in power, the more we embrace the divisions amongst us.
“Why would Peter Obi make such a promise? If he becomes the president of Nigeria and performs very well in his first tenure, then will 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 saying one term means he’s not going to try his hardest. He is not doing justice to the electorates. All we need in this country is just good governance
“We want accountability, fair representation and good welfare of the people. Welfare includes security, school, health and anti-corruption campaigns.
“If Peter Obi gets into power and after two years we start seeing results, it would be unfair for him to say he only wants four years.
“Imagine that in two years, Obi can bring down banditry, Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in the country, and then he said he wants to leave after four years, that would be unfair to those who elected him.
“If I am 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’.
We may not go far as a country until we get rid of tribalism and region-based politics. “We are marching backwards in reverse order”
ACF has no particular presidential candidate
But ACF spokesperson, who said the socio-cultural organization has no preferred policy candidate, said its duty is to analyze and let the electorates decide.
“There is no tradition of coming out openly in support of or opposition to any candidate or political parties in the country,” he said.
“More so 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 300 tribes in the North so we cannot afford to say that the North has one preferred candidate or party.
“But the North has only 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”.
Shambolic Tinubu’s government.
The ACF also took a swipe at the President Bola Tinubu led administration, describing it as shambolic.
Tukur Baba, who said the President Tinubu has not done well in the area of security also lambasted the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government over the ravaging economic hardship.
He said the “widespread” activities of bandits and terrorists in the country have “continued to spread”.
If President Tinubu is doing well, the impact would have been felt but the issue has continued to expand until the Americans came recently, he added.
“Bello Tunji is still bragging on social media in the North East. No results Tinubu reshuffles security architecture.
“Did he ever order any of the security chiefs ‘bring me the head of so so bandit or terrorist dead or alive?
“Tinubu has disconnected Aso Villa from the national grid but you and I are paying for power we did not see.
“Prices of things are on the increase yet we have taxes all over. They keep bragging about low taxes for lower income earners but even the razor blade you buy, there is VAT in it.
“The so-called Lagos-Calabar highway, we don’t know what is happening there, how much of the so-called Lagos-Sokoto road has been done? Where’s the progress? Those who asked for democracy are the ones sabotaging the principles of democracy today, Tinubu and his group.
“The middle class is gone. I am very disappointed in President Tinubu. This regime has borrowed more than all the previous governments put together and you and I are going to pay for it.
“So I will say generally the performance has been shambolic.
“Has their policies effected citizens oh yes but negatively”
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