Latest News We didn’t work against Jonathan, ACF replies Umeh

Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, saidon Wednesdaythat it did not work against President Goodluck Jonathan, who as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party at the March 28 election. Though, the ACF had endorsed the All Progressives Congress’s Presidential candidate, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), the Forum described as most unfortunate the allegation by the the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, that the ACF sabotaged the chances of Jonathan. It also canvassed support for the President-elect Buhari as President. “ACF urges Nigerian to support and cooperate with the President- elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), and his team to ensure the smooth transition and development of our young democracy and national unity,” ACF said. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, on Wednesdayin Kaduna, the forum described Umeh’s statement as uncharitable and unfortunate. ACF said, “The attention of ACF has been drawn to a publication titled ‘Northern leaders conspired to work against Jonathan’s re-election’, which appeared on-line and in some newspapers on the April 15, 2015, that was credited to the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh. “The statement by Chief Umeh that all ‘Northern leaders’ conspired to sabotage the re-election bid of President Jonathan was unfortunate, reckless and divisive in form and delivery. “Infact, ACF would not have responded to such unguarded and unwarranted statement by Chief Umeh if he had directed his anger at the President’s political party or his campaign organisation. “Chief Umeh’s reference to northern leaders in the interview and even his unpalatable statement on Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, one of the most respected Northern leaders was uncharitable and provocative, hence our reaction.” The group called on the APGA chairman and other politicians to show decorum and civility in their utterances. Meanwhile, the Forum asked politicians to emulate President Goodluck Jonathan’s sportsmanship in the just concluded elections. It added, “ACF calls upon Chief Umeh as a political leader that has followers all over Nigeria to show decorum and civility in his utterances on national issues. “ACF will not accept such careless and divisive statements from people who claimed to be political leaders of Nigeria.”