Anthony Sani the Spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has denied that any of its members ever said they would make Nigeria ungovernable for president Jonathan. It would be recalled that Alhaji Lawal Kaita a prominent member of the ACF did make the following statement in October of 2010;


"anything short of a Northern President is tantamount to stealing our presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses incumbency powers to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he will be frustrated out"

But today, when the ACF held a press conference in Kaduna to announce it Peace and Unity Conference, journalist present asked its spokesman Anthony Sani about the statement by Lawal Kaita, one of ACF's member, Sani categorically denied the statement and blamed "Southerners" for misinforming the public.

The comments by Sani are below;

"Someone is engage in suicide bombing and you said he is being sponsored by Northern leaders, to achieve what? Southerners are the ones saying so. If Jonathan fails it is Nigerians, and we are not praying for him to fail. We want him to succeed and if he fails don’t say it is North. Somebody even said we are sponsoring Boko Haram, how can we sponsor Boko Haram? What benefits? Why will a Northern leader sponsor Boko Haram? People who are in terrorism are never sponsored, they are people with the highest conviction, and they believe there is something to gain in dying than to live

Nigerians have spoken, they have elected President Jonathan, and now with the benefits of their judgment if he fails. I have heard it from the South and I ask them let them tell us who said it from the North. I then posit that let’s even take it, the kidnapping in Igbo land does that mean they are making the country ungovernable? Do I now take the robbery in Oyo and say they are making Nigeria ungovernable or those carrying guns in the South? This is not fair and Nigerians problems are not peculiar to one region alone.

We are not aware of any statement from any Northern elder who has said that they will make the country ungovernable for Jonathan, I am not aware let him rule and not make excuse to fail and blame it on Northerners, go and rule and when you failed don’t blame the North. Anybody that will say they will make the country ungovernable is not a democrat, and we have addressed the president many times, where are you getting all these? I want to know who said he will make the country ungovernable, once election have taken place, and the people have spoken they pay the price of their own judgment, they reap the benefit of their own judgment"

Afterwards, Sani, on behalf of the ACF released the following press statement;

PRESS CONFERENCE

Ladies and gentlemen,



We have the honor and privilege to address you gentlemen of the media and by extention the public on the desirability by Arewa Consultative Forum to organize the Arewa Conference On Peace And Unity on the 5th and 6th of December,2011,under the chairmanship of General Yakubu Gowon.The Conference will hold in the Indoor Sports Hall within Murtala Square, Kaduna.


President Jonathan is expected to be the Special Guest of honor, while Mr Vice President Namadi Sambo will be the Special Host. The Chief Host is naturally the host Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna state.

The theme of the Conference is Peace And Unity For Development, and is aimed at bringing northern leaders-be they political, religious, community and even from the business community-together to talk things over for peaceful coexistence associated with genuine reconciliation that go with genuine forgiveness necessary for any socioeconomic development.
It is a common place knowledge that our nation is facing difficult times characterized by spate of kidnappings, militant activism, ethno-religious crises and recent high incidences of bombings by the Boko Haram.Apart from the untold hardship by way of loss of lives and properties caused the people, such problems of insecurity place serious sand bags on the path of socioeconomic development of not only the North but across the nation. This is because, according to Prof B Akinyemi, Nigeria can be likened to a big river being fed by tributaries. And when one or more of the tributaries is poisoned, the whole river becomes contaminated.
Given the trite that matter of peaceful coexistence which goes with national security is a collective responsibility and not that of government alone, ACF leaders, along with other northern leaders, have thought it wise to organize the peace conference as part of its own contributions towards attaining permanent peace not only in northern parts of the country but also across the nation.

This is in recognition of the UN Resolution which expects leaders of people to address the underlying concerns of those who engage in communal violence and acts of terrorism. This is more so when consideration is given to the reality that most of those who get involved in acts of terrorism believe they have nothing to lose on earth, and more to gain in death. That is to say, only the highest of commitments can inspire terrorism. That may explain the U N Resolution 1963 of 2010,which believes the best approach in containing acts of terrorism is to consciously address the underlying causes. The experiences of U S in Vietnam, Iraq and in Afghanistan must have informed such UN Resolution.



Some of the speakers expected to speak on the theme of the Conference, which borders on the forces of conflicts and disunity, as well as collapse of national ideals, moral values and social contract among groups and among individuals ,include Prof J I Elaigwu, Prof.J.Aminu, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah and J B. Daudu of The NBA. Those to chair the sessions are General T Y Danjuma,HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and Justice S.Belgore. Considering the adverse effects of communal conflicts and internecine violence by way of untold hardship from loss of lives and properties, and the important need to put a permanent stop at communal conflicts and acts of terrorism ,as well as disabuse the minds of those who believe it will be just another conference, ACF plans to put up a mechanism for implementations of the ensuing resolutions of the conference by those with executive authorities to do so. From the foregoings, it is not out of place for ACF to appeal to all stake holders and public spirited individuals across the North and the country in general to support the letter and spirit of the conference.ACF hopes its success has the potential to bring about lasting peace in the North and indeed across the country for common good. This is necessary because peaceful coexistence is a prerequisite condition for any meaningful stride in socioeconomic and political development of any society.
Our interdependence are so wide and deep that no divorce is possible. And so working hard to overcome the differences that divide the people is not matter of option but tasks that must be done. And since progress can come from change as a result of robust discourse, ACF believes it is very possible that the resolutions of the Arewa Conference On Peace And Unity can bring about situations where politics ,economics and morality or common decency, can intersect productively for collective good.

Thank you.



Anthony N Z Sani.

My Point now is who cares about what the ACF says, all i know is that one day GOD will surely arrest the idiots behind Boko Harams. You guys are just waken up now, after enough damage

Damage control

They never thought things would backfire, or perhaps they fear Ndume will cough up many names. Too late, they should have condemned boko haram long ago (they still haven't).

We knew the ACF never said, I blame any northern politician who grant interview to our stereotype and biased media.