■ Four years of Jonathan is disaster after disaster, says Abubakar Mamman Danmusa
In the face of recent endorsement of the presidential candidate of
the All Progressive Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by Arewa
Consultative Forum (ACF) in the forthcoming presidential election, elder
statesman-cum-legal luminary and former Deputy Senate President,
Abubakar Mamman Danmusa, has revealed why it was necessary ACF threw its
weight behind Buhari.
Danmusa said that the erstwhile Head of State was endorsed on the
basis that Nigeria is on the brink of collapse and there is no sectional
coloration about it.
He spoke to
ANDY ASEMOTA on the merit of the endorsement and what it portends for Nigeria. Excerpts:
What do you have to say on the recent endorsement of General
Muhammadu Buhari by Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) for next month
presidential election?
Really, the parties have fielded their candidates and they made their
home work. You know, the chairman of ACF and former Inspector General
of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, said ACF has endorsed Buhari, but they
denied. But now, having seen the candidates, the deterioration of
security situation and the sufferings, more about the economy in view of
the price of oil which has gone down terribly and the way Nigerians are
suffering, I think it is not because they come from the North that they
endorsed him.
In 2011, they did not endorse him because perhaps they were of the
opinion that Jonathan should be given a chance to prove himself. Now,
for four years, it is nothing but disaster after disaster. Nigeria,
which used to have respect all over the world, is now the laughing
stock. Certainly, something ought to be done to stop the situation
because, God forbid, if Nigeria breaks up, the whole of Africa will be
affected. You can see with the war in Syria and Iraq how Europe is
contending with immigration challenges on a daily basis. If Nigeria,
with its vast population, explodes, certainly all neighbouring countries
will be in trouble.
Is there any hope?
It is not a question about Buhari or Jonathan but the question of
stability of Nigeria. For the first time in the history of South South,
they have endorsed Buhari and they are serious and if they do things,
they go all out. They (Buhari and his supporters) are in mobilization
process, like what took place last week in Osun State where they walked
for three kilometres just to mobilize people to clean Nigeria.
You see, it is not the question of a northern organisation endorsing
Buhari. It is a question of the survival of this country. What about
Ohanaeze? Long, long ago, it had endorsed Jonathan. So, if that is the right thing for
Ohanaeze to do, then it is not wrong for Arewa Consultative Forum to back Buhari. I think people should be honest with themselves.
Jonathan is a disaster. I am not with Buhari. I said I will not join
his party, but this time round, I am campaigning for him that he should
be elected. Not on the basis that he is a northerner, no, but on the
basis that Nigeria is on the brink of collapse. Only God knows what will
happen. So, whether Buhari comes from where (ever), he is the best
alternative we have now and there is nothing wrong for Arewa Consutative
Forum to endorse him.
I think it would have been
Ohanaeze which should be
condemned. Earlier, it had endorsed Jonathan; that is partisan but ACF,
after a deep reflection, decided to endorse Buhari. We want to save
Nigeria.
When he (Buhari) won (APC presidential primary), I did not
congratulate him. If he wins February 14 poll, I will not congratulate
him. I will only wish him good luck but I think Buhari is the best thing
to happen to us at this time. There are so many issues on which we
disagree but I think now, he is the best thing that can happen to
Nigeria.
Our army had been playing leading role in Africa, but now we have to
go to local hunters for help. It is a disgrace that the insurgents have
taken over virtually everything belonging to us.
So, what are you talking about? To leave Nigeria in the hands of this
President? I think somebody must be crazy. So, I think Arewa
Consultative Forum is right.
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