REVEAL TRUE INFO ON YAR'ADUA –ACF

Reveal true info on Yar'Adua -ACF
…Declares support for Jonathan
From ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Kaduna
Friday, March 05, 2010
The foremost socio-cultural group in the north, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has again called on those managing ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to be forthcoming with information regarding his health status and his physical capacity to continue in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

According to the group, unless this was done, it would certainly be difficult for Nigerians to stop the current 'levels of bickering, intrigues and subterfuge that come with mistrust and suspicion,' even as it declared its unalloyed support for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group's latest position was the outcome of a meeting of its special committee held on Wednesday at its secretariat, Kaduna.

In the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, a copy of which was made available to Daily Sun, it was disclosed that the meeting was presided over by the committee's chairman, Lt. General Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi and it was attended by the former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Coomassie, Alhaji Adamu Fika (wazirin fika), Senator JKN Waku, Col. Hamid Ali, Alhaji Sule Yahaya Hamma and Col. JIP Ubah.

Others are: Col. Mohammed Abdu, Bitrus Gwadah, Mallam Lawal Idris, Professor B.D. Musa, Ambassador Adamu Mohammed, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, Alhaji Adamu Attah, Brig. Gen. M.A. Umar and Mallam Bukar Zarma, who is the secretary of the committee.

While calling on the acting president to expedite action on the electoral reform, the group insisted that only electoral reform could make people to vote in 2011, adding that 'when peoples' votes count, the leadership that emerges will necessarily have abiding faith in the judgment of the people. Such leaders are more likely to exercise power that is humane in its spirit, moral in its purpose and wise in its uses.'

It went further to state that 'ACF has considered the unhealthy and avoidable politics of identity which has attended the return of President Umaru Yar'Adua from medical treatment of his ailment in Saudi Arabia.

'The forum has also noted the fissiparous tendencies that now threaten to divide not only the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the federation and the National Assembly, but also the entire nation along ethno-religious and regional cleavages.

'As a result, it bears repeating the position of ACF that unless those charged with the authority and responsibility of managing the health of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua are forthcoming with information on the true position of Mr. President's health status and physical capacity to Nigerians, it would be near impossible for Nigerians to do away with the current levels of bickering, intrigues and subterfuge that come with mistrust and suspicion.

'ACF therefore appeals to the handlers of the President to put national interest and his health above individual ambitions and pecuniary interest by being more open and transparent on this important matter of President Yar'Adua's health. This is about the only way that would enable relevant government organs and agencies take all necessary constitutional actions (in line with section 144) that will put this saga behind and spur the nation forward for collective good.

'ACF pledge once again its support for and cooperation with the Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan. It is noteworthy that the Acting President has been a product of luck, of forces of national unity and of national consensus. Indeed, he is a product of forces beyond his control. As a result, he cannot afford to preside over a divided government or the nation.

'To that end, Acting President Goodluck is expected to take advantage of his new enhanced status and bring Nigerians together for the purpose of enabling them to work hard and overcome the differences that seem to divide us. This is because no nation ever thrives through victories of its factions but by their ultimate reconciliation.

'The forum also calls on the acting president to make haste and enact the electoral reforms that will enable the people's votes count in 2011. The reason, being that when peoples' votes count, the leadership that emerges will necessarily have abiding faith in the judgment of the people. Such leaders are more likely to exercise power that is humane in its spirit, moral in its purpose and wise in its uses.

'It is still the position of ACF that government exists to make a difference in the life of the nation and to enable people make differences in their own lives and of others. He needs not be reminded that governance is an art of balancing competing demands. Nigerians expect no less from the government under the watch of Acting President Jonathan Ebele Goodluck. One way of achieving this is the improvement in power, energy and security.

'Meanwhile, we extend as always our prayers and sympathy to the ailing President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua,' the communiqué signed by the group's Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, said.