• Convene pan-Arewa summit for decisive decisions on polls

• Won’t allow another ‘imposition’ of candidate by non-northerners

Posted By: Jide Babalola


Key northern stakeholders yesterday floated a new group- Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) – aimed at enabling the region to take its destiny in its hand ahead of next year’s elections, especially the presidential poll.

The group emerged at a meeting of Northern Elders and Stakeholders Conversation co-convened by a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bello Mohammed; former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu; and Second Republic Senator Paul Wampana.

The Nation gathered last night that it was the north’s direct response to the Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) and its main goal is to have a big say in who rules Nigeria from May 2019.

Mohammed, speaking at the opening session yesterday said the forum was convened “after due consideration of the current political situation in the country”
He said: “From what is apparent in the political arena today, it is clear that the major political operators have agreed that in the forthcoming 2019 General Elections, it is the turn of the North to produce the president.

“And what we can see in the political arena is that most political operators have agreed that the political leadership of our country should be zoned to the North according to our Constitution with regards to zoning and rotation. But from what we have seen earlier, it has always been zoned to the North but the decision on what to do and who to be has never been a Northern decision.

“What we observed is that the same trend is starting now. We have seen all kinds of movements coming up. If you look at what is happening now and remember what happened when it was the time of the North to produce president, President Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory was produced but was he really a Northern choice? At the end of the day, Yar’Adua had mishap and lost his life in the process and somebody else was also chosen, his Vice President.

“We knew the struggle that went on when it was decided that the presidency should leave the North. It wasn’t the northerners who decided that the Presidency should leave the North. We had to follow the bandwagon.

“The same thing happened in 2015, the North voted for the northern candidate but the decision on who should be the candidate wasn’t a northern decision. What we want is that this time around; let us have the opportunity to come together so that whatever is decided for the North, it is the Northern leaders who decide it and then we get support from other regions.

“If we are able to do that, then we should be able to produce a leadership for this country that would be just, equitable and lead us to nation’s development which is eluding us. That is the reason why we are here. “

The meeting appointed Dr. Umar Ardo as NPLF’s Secretary and Commodore Isaac M Mankilik (rtd ) as Deputy Secretary.

It also raised five committees: 2019 Election Sub-Committee, Security Sub-Committee, Political Sub-Committee, Northern Unity Sub-Committee and a Restructuring of Nigeria Sub-Committee.
In a communiqué, the group agreed to hold a Northern Political Summit on 15th March 2018.

It said yesterday’s meeting was to:
Review the general security situation in the North and proffer viable solution;
Appraise the current state of politics in the North in relation to the unfolding national political dynamics with a view to creating a common Northern position for alliance with our fellow citizen in the southern zones;
Examine the causes of conflict among Northerners and suggest practical ways and means of attaining functional unity;
Discuss and suggest the best mode of maximizing Northern advantages in the 2019 general elections;
Impress upon our people to register and have their PVCs; and
Discuss and formulate the stand of the North on the various issues raised.

Discuss any other business that could further embellish the main aim of the conversation,” they stated in the communiqué.

The stakeholders said the governors have become too powerful and extremely self-alienated from Arewa interests as espoused by late Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, the Arewa leaders reeled out major problems caused by northern governors’ peculiar disposition.

It said: “Governors were seriously indicted for inability to maintain fairness, equity and social cohesion in business of governance especially on government appointments and empowerment.

“Most appointees were being married to nepotism as a new phenomenon rearing its ugly heads in the region.

“The Governors were challenged to change their disposition and borrow a lead from Sardauna and his key officers for change for the better in larger interest of the North.

“The Governors were also reminded of their detrimental approach to issues of Northern unity; employing series examples like giving support to third term or tenure elongation of Obasanjo and their open disregard to (Arewa ) unity of purposes.”

At yesterday’s meeting were Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar N’Abba; former FCT Minister, Jeremiah Useni; former governor of Adamawa, Boni Haruna; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; former governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada; former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ango Abdullahi; Prof Auwal Yadudu; former ministers, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari and Solomon Ewuga

http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-northern-elders-move-obasanjo/

lalasticlala

They are only interested in the presidency, nothing more. Things like herdsmen killings and the comatose economy plus fuel crisis does not bother them.

Una see am?

Can someone please show us where the constitution mandates zoning and rotation of power like it has been suggested in this article? I don’t think theses elders even know what is inthe constitution. Bunch of jokers. If you keep releasing failures as your candidates then you only have yourself to blame. Any Nigerian can contest for presidency.

They can kill OBJ. He should be vigilant

It's a nice move.

I guess the northern elders have also rejected Buhari from this narrative.

OBJ spoke the mind of majority of Nigerians.

And there's nothing northern elders can do to dissuade the people from the fact that Buboo is not only a failure but an insult to failures.

And they talked about development has the north ever been concerned about the development of this country aside their continuous power grab?

And isn't it contradictory to talk of unity, development and fairness but still pushing for Arewa interests as espoused by late Sardauna Ahmadu Bello?

If they sincerely wants equity they should support restructuring or we peacefully break up the country into regions.

For their mind Na them get Nigeria.
Parasites.





This woman is buhari's only achievement.she too fine

Parasites.

"...But from what we have seen earlier, it has always been zoned to the North but the decision on what to do and who to be has never been a Northern decision."


Really?
Who forced Buhari on you guys?

fu;ck the north..pls leave benue people and the middle belt out of this one northern madness..my heart goes out to all those suffering under this stupidic government from the north west..

Those who think that they can send Buhari back to Daura through voting him out just dey make me laugh , maybe is just because they didnt grow up in the core north. The Alamajiris that will vote that day just need a friday summon and a plate of well cooked rice and meat and the did is done, if anyone stand on their way, you will see your head rolling on the ground. The millitary and police forces controlled by the Fulanis will decend on the south and perfect the rigging for their master and kill any resisting infidels.

Okay Let them keep moving

MichaelBukamzy:
For their mind Na them get Nigeria. Parasites.




This woman is buhari's only achievement.she too fine

Waiting to inherit her as soon as Buhari pays for all his sins.

DIKEnaWAR:



Waiting to inherit her as soon as Buhari pays for all his sins.

Aru!!!.
Nwoke m,nwanyi a bugodu igba.rapuru mu ya

MichaelBukamzy:



Aru!!!.
Nwoke m,nwanyi a bugodu igba.rapuru mu ya

Nwanyi bu machine. Mu rigoro na the thing odi ka G wagon straight from factory. Ima na cobwebs di there now maka Buhari agwo ojoo enweghi power to do anything.

The North can't determine the presidency again! When Buhari was in CPC, he failed woefully because he thought that only the Northern region could land him the job. Not until he aligned with Tinubu to win over the southwest, and that made him win the election. Now, there are more registered voters in the southern part of Nigeria than ever before. There are no more freshly minted voters in the North, because prior to now, 90% of Northerners were duly registered! PMB or any Northerner won't win the 2019 presidential election! Besides, PMB can't win in states like Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Gombe

Confused people. That's all I see.

The north can't stand at the helm of affairs in this country anymore...




Anyway I'm not surprised at their actions... They've always stood against the truth and embrace lies. Little wonder the region is so backwards.

baby124:
Can someone please show us where the constitution mandates zoning and rotation of power like it has been suggested in this article? I don’t think theses elders even know what is inthe constitution. Bunch of jokers. If you keep releasing failures as your candidates then you only have yourself to blame. Any Nigerian can contest for presidency.

They care not about constitution. Only to keep perpetual control of Nigeria in line with Ahmadu Bello's mandate.

It is people in the South who are living in denial. But soon enough they will finally realise it.

Nepotism has eaten their brains

I am just thinking with all these, let's assume PMB lose, will he freely leave his post without his zombies war lords shedding some blood?

The owl is watching them*.

Thieves

Parasites

There will always be a tinubu to sell out the south

This zoning madness is why we are as backward as we are.

Rats dare to challenge a cat to a duel.

mtcheewww!... #i stand with obj!
lmagine these perpetual parasites!
shameless kleptomaniacs!

The game is fresh now

desmond2pk:
There will always be a tinubu to sell out the south

You may be wrong this time ...
who told you Tinubu sold out at the first instance
Where were you when tinubu visited OBJ at his presidential library and second week he OBJ tore his Party card
Don't you know that the game is real and Obj is still the remaining father of politics in the whole Africa , sit down and be writing / typing what is not

MichaelBukamzy:
For their mind Na them get Nigeria.
Parasites.





This woman is buhari's only achievement.she too fine

you no well at all.
Just emerging what this people are spewing from their mouth.

Anyway, Nigeria is a joke.