Jonathan-Nyako Feud: Northern Elders warn Arewa

The Northern Elders Council has warned the Arewa Consultative Forum not to dabble into the partisan politics of the North. The NEC said the ACF was being manipulated by the Northern Elders Forum to escalate the political crisis between Governor Murtala Nyako and the Presidency.

The message was contained in a statement released by the NEC spokesman, ambassador Yusuf Mamman yesterday.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Northern Elders Council (NEC)  is drawn to the news item jointly signed by the Arewa Consulta­tive Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) secretaries, Col. John Uba (retired) and Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed on the current imbroglio be­tween some northern gov­ernors and the Presidency. It is a matter of utmost regret that an organisation which is an umbrella or­ganisation  that serves as a pan-Northern platform will lend itself to the manipu­lation of the NEF, which is an organisation that has consistently, openly and manifestly advocated vio­lence, threat and intimida­tion.

“It is on record that NEF harbours intemperate and bellicose, disposition, which has largely alien­ated it from a substantial segment of good and well meaning northerners.

“For the ACF to agree to submit a joint statement with the NEF is unfortunate and absolutely regrettable. The NEF has consistently sought to arrogate itself the right to speak and act in a very divisive, unpatriotic, unstatesmanly and partisan manner. This, we reject. It is unacceptable

“The integrity and cred­ibility of the ACF will surely be tested if politi­cally partisan groups are allowed to leverage on its goodwill to create chaos and promote their hate and selfish agenda.

“We appeal to the ACF leadership to remain non-partisan and an all inclu­sive Northern platform.”