2015: ACF WARNS PRO-JONATHAN CAMPAIGNERS AUGUST 15, 2014 BY GODWIN ISENYO, KADUNA The Arewa Consultative Forum on Friday once again warned supporters and campaigners of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidency to tarry awhile, saying that any rally to garner support for the president at this moment of grief in the country was ill-conceived and of great security threat. The Forum said it was a flagrant abuse of the Electoral Act for any political rally to take place in favour of President Jonathan even when the Independent National Electoral Commission was yet to lift ban on electioneering campaign. In apparent reference to the planned political rallies for Jonathan by the group, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, slated to hold in the six geo-political zones of the country, the ACF argued that the organisers should be more concerned about the security challenges and the Ebola virus in Nigeria rather than celebrating the president when other parts of the country were grieving. Though the ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, on Friday in Kaduna said it appreciated the zeal and enthusiasm of members of TAN to showcase the achievements of President Jonathan, it faulted the organisers of the rallies, in comparison with the plight of Nigerians living under threat of Boko Haram insurgent. It noted that activities of the insurgents had led to the killing of security personnel and innocent souls, destruction of property and displacements of 400,000 persons in the North East, a situation now worsened by the current health challenges of Ebola virus. The Forum noted that the current situation does not call for celebrations and political rallies in support of any cause or any political office holder. It said, “Moreover, INEC is yet to lift the ban on political rallies as per the provisions of our Constitution and the electoral Act.” The ACF, therefore, called on TAN members to be human, sensitive and have a rethink on their planned solidarity rally in the six geopolitical zones and shift it to a more appropriate time, especially, “the ones for Kano, Minna and Gombe for the sake of Nigerians under siege of insurgency and other challenges.” It said, “In the past two weeks or so, there have been series of advertisements in both electronic and print media on a planned political rally in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria by an association known as Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria to garner support for Mr. President Goodluck Jonathan against 2015 elections. The political solidarity rally is to kick start on the 16th August, 2015. “The members of TAN are certainly Nigerians entitled to their fundamental rights of association and free movement in any part of Nigeria as guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution.”
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:09:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015