NORTHERN ELDERS AT DAGGERS DRAWN OVER JONATHAN

Even though President Goodluck Jonathan is yet to declare his ambition to re contest his position in 2015, the North is at war as those against and those in support are already raising the stakes.
Reacting to the ultimatum given to President Jonathan by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to either produce the school girls abducted at Chibok next month orforget his presidential ambition, Chairman of the Northern Elders Council (NEC), Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, stated in Kaduna yesterday that members of NEF are young people that do not understand some of the things they say.
Yakassai was speaking at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees of the Northern Elders Council (NEC).
Yakassai said: “You see when young people talk, at times they talk out of thought. You know they are our juniors. You know what the elders can foresee the younger man can go on top of the three and cannot see,” he said.
On where his loyalty is in the 2015 presidential race: “We are waiting for people that are interested in the presidency to declare and we can compare their quality, the programme of their party and then we can make up our minds. You know I am not interested. Let the people that are interested declare. I’m 88 years old.
“I can no longer be a minister, governor or president. I cannot ask anybody to declare. But I’m waiting for how many of them will declare for the presidency.”
In a swift reaction, however, a member of NEF and a former federal permanent secretary, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said: “Is the Northern Elders Council the mouthpiece of the President? When have they become the Federal Government’s spokesperson? As far as we are concerned, the three months ultimatum still stands. And from all indication, Jonathan has failed and has no reason to ask for the mandate of Northerners.”
It would be recalled that the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had given President Jonathan two months ultimatum to produce the abducted girls from Chibok Government Colleges or forget the support of the Northerners in his 2015 ambition.
Two members of the forum, Solomon Dalung and Dr Baba-Ahmed, who addressed journalists in Kaduna after their meeting recently, warned that “In the event that President Jonathan fails to do this, Nigerians will be left with the only conclusion that he has forfeited his right to ask for our mandate beyond 2015.”
Yakassai retorted, however: “Insecurity unfortunately is an abnormal thing now not only in Nigeria but all over the world. Look at what is happening in Libya. Two years ago Libya was a peaceful country. Today, it is shattered into pieces. See what is happening in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other places. It is a world wide phenomenon.
“I think what is required is for the government to plan, allocate more funds and also seek the advice and support of the international community, because now we are living in a world of global village.
“Everybody, every human being has a contribution to make to any country that is in trouble. It is only by working together with your people and the people from outside that we will be able to achieve results.
“What government need is to seek the support of everybody. The United States cannot do it alone. It is the richest country in the world, but it is indebted to China to the tune of billions of dollars. If not because of cooperation between the two countries, the economy of the US will collapse,” he said.
Kaduna State governor represented by his deputy, Nuhu Bajoga , at the same occasion offered:
“These are indeed trying times for the entire people of the North, as the region faces its worse security challenge since the emergence of Nigeria as an entity. Never before have we been subjected to the atrocious level of insecurity and wanton destruction of lives and property as the present situation in some parts of the region. Life has become so cheap in the North, as innocent people are killed on daily basis without justification whatsoever.
“In the face of this grave inhumanity being perpetrated by faceless agitators, I believe all stakeholders in the North, especially noble organisations such as the Northern Elders Council have a role to play in strengthening the bond of unity among our people. The unity of the North is imperative in ensuring that the region and its traumatized people come out of the present wicked insurgency stronger.
“While this temporary setback being waged by insurgency lasts, our elders must bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring that we build stronger bonds of brotherhood in the entire North. Surely, united we shall overcome our current predicament.”
Source: Daily Newswatch