As the Saturday presidential election approaches in Nigeria, Muhammad Yakubu, a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has made a statement saying that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is the endorsed candidate of the North.
According to the ACF’s Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, the forum had earlier urged northerners and Nigerians to vote for the candidate of their choice in the election. The ACF further urged Northern voters to look for a presidential candidate with clear and objective party manifestos, as well as the character and track records of the candidates.
However, speaking at a press conference at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna on Monday, Yakubu, who is also the National Assistant Auditor of the Forum, revealed that the region had settled for Atiku for the poll, based on recent statements made by notable northern elders such as Alhaji Zango Daura and Prof. Ango Abdullahi, among others.
Yakubu said that the region was supporting Atiku, not because he was a northerner, but because of his capacity and experience to take the country to the promised land. He added that the North was not in support of the rotational presidency as reported yesterday by the ACF Secretary-General, News About Nigeria reports.
Yakubu clarified that no decision had been made on the matter, and such decisions would only be made by the National Executive Council or the National Working Committee.
He also added that the ACF is established to protect the interest of the North, and Atiku, being a northerner, was the candidate that best embodied the qualities of capacity, competence, integrity, and reach across the country.
He concluded by stating that Atiku was not just the choice of the North, but the choice of the majority of Nigerians who believe that he has what it takes to lead the country to prosperity. As Nigerians prepare to head to the polls on Saturday, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the winner of the presidential election.
