Northern elders reject ACF stand on Jonathan’s spat with govs

The Northern Elders Council (NEC) yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) for speaking with one voice with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) over the argument between President Goodluck Jonathan and some governors.

Both ACF and NEF signed a joint statement on Tuesday calling on Jonathan and the governors to exercise restraint. The NEC said it was embarrassed with the way the ACF, seen as ‘pan northern platform’ agreed to work together with NEF which portrayed itself as backward-looking group.

“It was a matter of utmost regret that an organization like ACF, which is an umbrella organization that serves as a pan northern platform will lend itself to the manipulation of the NEF, which is an organization that has consistently, openly and manifestly advocated violence, threat and intimidation,” NEC spokesman Ambassador Yusuf Mamman said in a statement.

He said, “For ACF to agree to submit a joint statement with the NEF is unfortunate and absolutely regrettable. The NEF has consistently sought to arrogate itself the right to speak and act in a very divisive, unpatriotic, unstatemanly and partisan manner. This we reject. It is unacceptable.”

The council urged ACF to stay away from partisan politics.