By HASSANA YAKUBU
KADUNA- A group, Arewa Joint Committee, says they are not validating any candidature and there is no plan by the group with the goal of endorsing a particular candidate.
The Arewa committee said they are not political group, but a pressure organisation with the interest of Nigeria and the North in particular.
The Chairman, Steering Committee of the group, Malam Murtala Aliyu, said this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Aliyu said that the six groups under the aegis of Arewa Joint Committee, had successfully engagement with five presidential candidates on their mission for the country and region.
According to him, the group came together for the interest of Nigeria and the North in particular.
“We want to make sure that whoever will come, will stabilise the country and address the peculiar interest of the North.
“And we are not validating anybody, but we are going to tell the world what everyone of them said about what,” Aliyu explained.
He said their duty is to make the public appreciate what each of the candidates has in stock for the North and the country at large.
According to him, it is not the duty of our group to access or validate, it is for the public, as their presentation were made publicly.
“While Nigerians may measure and evaluate candidates against them, our goal is to afford citizens an opportunity to match candidates against their commitments to matters that are central to the interests of the North,” he said.
“We hosted five of the six candidates who had accepted to participate in the historic interactions,” he said.
He said one candidate chose not to participate, while appreciating the candidates who honoured the invitation.
“And who showed respect to public opinion and the Nigerian voter by submitting themselves to the most intimate scrutiny by Northern elders and other groups, the media and the public.
“These interactions, the first of their type in the history of our country, have been a tremendous success.
“First, they demonstrated the strong bonds of unity of the people of the North, represented by the collaborating groups.”
He reiterated the group’s unquestioning commitment to the search for the best quality of leadership out of the many candidates who wanted their support.
“Second, they showed a commendable level of respect for the democratic process by the candidates who submitted to the process.”
He said the interactive session afforded Nigerians a rare opportunity to see and hear candidates speak about their plans and vision.
“They helped to focus attention on the peculiar and shared problems and challenges of the North and scrutinise the levels of understanding and sympathy for them among the candidates.”
He said they raised the bar in search for leadership that respects accountability and competence.
“Until the elections in February 2023, the North will be challenged to raise its vigilance over all electoral activities,
“It is vital that we prioritise evidence of competence, integrity, quality of preparation and commitment to address the challenges of the North among candidates,” he said.
According to him, the group will continue to invite attention of the government to the security of the electoral process, and in particular, the vulnerability of many parts of the North to organised crime which may pose a serious threat to their rights to participate in electing the next set of leaders in 2023.
“The need to show restraint and discipline as politicians canvass for our elections has never been more pressing.”
He explained that the entire nation must be open to all contestants and free from violence.
“The exploitation of ethnic and religious fault lines is extremely dangerous, and the nation is already showing signs of stress owing to this exploitation,” he sad. (NAN)
