Northern leaders accuse Jonathan of using ‘divide and rule’ to split the north ahead of 2015

The ACF said it is aware of the president’s polarization plans.

Some northern leaders have accused President Goodluck Jonathan of trying to divide their ranks using a ‘divide and rule’ tactics.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Jeremiah Useni, said this at the opening of the organisation’s Annual General Meeting in Kaduna.

Mr. Useni accused the Federal Government of adopting a divide-and-rule tactics to polarise the North ahead of the 2015 election.

“I am very sad that the presidency have started divide and rule on the north. Recently we noticed with dismay that some members of this organisation have gone to the president and assured him that he must contest for election in 2015.

“We were surprised that some of the members that went there are also members of ACF; particularly two gentlemen. The two gentlemen one belongs to ACF and the other one is in Elders forum. We were surprised because one of them has being very helpful to us,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by the ACF Chairman, Aliko Mohammed.

The Chairman said the forum was making efforts to reconcile all political camps in the region, including the Northern Governors, for the attainment of the common vision and goals of the region.

“Also I am saying that during one of our visits to Kano when we saw the Kano State Governor, he suggested that ACF should reconcile the leadership of the north, I think now it is necessary for ACF to intervene on what is happening with regards to Northern governors.

“We are not talking about Nigerian Governors Forum where 36 people cannot decide who to lead them. We are talking about north where already two governors have withdrawn. It is something that should not be,” he said.

He decried the continuing insecurity in the region, and pledged that the ACF would continue to work for social, economic and political development of the area.

Presenting the ACF Annual Report, the Secretary General, Musa Shehu, said the insecurity in the region had necessitated a tour of the region by some of the members.

Mr. Shehu added that the members also met with elders from the southern part of the country and various cultural organisations to discuss issues that would reform the country, and improve moral values and ideals.

(NAN)