Prominent northern socio-political groups on Friday disowned the Northern Elders’ Council, which had vowed to work for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group’s intention had been made known at its inaugural general assembly on Thursday. The leader of the group, Tanko Yakassai, had said the group would work for the success of the Goodluck Jonathan/Namadi Sambo ticket during the next presidential election.
However, the Northern Elders’ Forum, the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, and the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum told SUNDAY PUNCH that Yakassai’s group was being sponsored by the Presidency.
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, the Deputy Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo, said the majority of northerners wanted a northerner to be the next President in 2015.
Unongo said, “Apart from the Northern Elders’ Forum and the Arewa Consultative Forum, there are many other groups in the North. We, at the Northern Elders’ Forum, have tried to liaise with these groups including the Arewa Consultative Forum, and we have agreed that we will support a northern candidate in 2015. If any group rises up and thinks otherwise, I think they should be allowed to canvass their belief.”
According to Unongo, there have been several meetings of socio-political groups in the North, where they all agreed on the issue of supporting a northern candidate in 2015.
He said in one of the recent meetings, about 15 other groups were in attendance.
“We’ve had meetings, and I have documents to prove it, to try to rationalise our position and we realise that our positions are very close.”
Also speaking on the issue, the spokesman for the elders’ forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, dismissed insinuations that the North was divided on account of the council’s declaration of support for Jonathan.
Abdullahi said, “As far as we know, this is a cocoon of political jobbers that want to cash in on a desperate situation, where people are really desperate to hang on to power, where people are tired of their leadership. It’s an opportunity for people to cash in on it; so Tanko Yakassai and his group are in business.”
He said the Northern Elders Council was not in any way affiliated to the Northern Elders’ Forum.
Similarly, the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, disowned Yakassai and his group.
The Convener of the group, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, told SUNDAY PUNCH that Yakassai and members of his group had very little electoral value.
He said, “The leader of the group, Tanko Yakassai, I know him from childhood and he resides in the same area with me in Kano. He leads the group, together with others who are errand boys for the President. As far as I know, Tanko Yakassai has never won even a ward election in his entire political career and he is now approaching 90.”
Also, the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said the northern youths wanted those he described as “elders” to leave the political scene.
“These elders are just looking out for their personal interests and not the interest of the common man in the North. They are just looking for a government that will favour them. We know Yakassai, he has never been consistent. He is neither here nor there,” he said.
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