Some socio-cultural groups founded to promote people’s interest along ethnic lines seem to be deep in crisis over candidates’ endorsement for the general elections, Fisayo Falodi writes

Many socio-cultural groups known to be united in the country are splitting along political parties’ interests ahead of next month’s general elections.

The groups, which had initially commanded much respect in their respective bases and among their admirers, have been engaging in a battle-like competition over who to support between the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, and his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

The groups were said to have abandoned the purpose for which they were formed to pursue what commentators described as mere attention-grabbing endorsement.

The observers said the groups would have done better if they had set agenda for the two presidential candidates.

A lawyer and analyst, Mr. Rasheed Bamishile, said though no section of the law prevents anyone or group from endorsing one candidate or another, the efforts of the socio-cultural groups would be appreciated more if they had diverted their attention to issues that would enhance the credible conduct of the next general elections.

He said, “It appears that some of the socio-cultural groups have shifted focus on endorsement of candidates for elections in an effort to get the people’s attention.

“Apart from endorsing candidates, one would expect that the groups should dedicate more of their time to issues that would promote voters’ education instead of falling upon one another to endorse candidates probably for pecuniary interests.”

The development was believed to have triggered a political cold war among members of some of the groups. For example, Northern socio-cultural group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, formed long ago to promote the unity of the people of the North and their interest had been accused of compromising the objectives by the founder of Northern Elders Council, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, who himself had endorsed Jonathan for re-election.

Yakasai withdrew his membership from ACF years ago over the forum’s insistence that the late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, should hand over power to Jonathan, who was then the vice-president.

Also the ACF and Northern Elders Forum recently endorsed Buhari as the presidential candidate of the North. The groups hinged their positions on the belief that the APC candidate has better leadership qualities than Jonathan.

NEF Secretary, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had said at a recent press conference that the forum’s “endorsement of Buhari, just like other Nigerians from all parts of the country that are supporting his candidature, is based on our belief that he and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo have the integrity, commitment and experience to resolve the country’s security problems, fight corruption and fix the economy.

“We welcome the overwhelming nationwide support they are enjoying, and we appeal to all Nigerians to support them to a victory that will end fear, impunity and destitution in our land.”

Similarly, ACF said its endorsement of Buhari was in tandem with the forum’s policy to support Northerner in any presidential election.

The two groups described the Yakasai’s newly formed NEC as anti-North.

But NEC countered the ACF and NEF, promising to ensure Jonathan’s re-election next month.

The communiqué endorsing Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, was signed by Ambassador Yusuf Mamman on behalf of NEC.

The communiqué read, “We will work alongside all Nigerians who wish to ensure that machinations of anti-democratic forces in this country are frustrated. We reject intimidation, threat and violence. Leaders and elders must lead by example. It’s unacceptable for elders to make inciting and inflammatory statement capable of breaching the peace. We say no to war-like and belligerent posture.

“Northern Elders Council commends and fully supports the visionary and transformational policies of President Jonathan and acknowledges the socio-economic strides of the administration in all sectors.

“The council pledges its full support and commitment to work for the success of President Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo in the next general elections.”

Similarly, the Arewa Youth Integrity is interested in mobilising 20 million youths across the 19 northern states for Jonathan’s re-election.

The AYI, which commended Jonathan for his recent visit to Maiduguri, capital of the troubled Borno State, described the PDP candidate as a brave and courageous leader in a statement by its National President, Hamid Usman.

Usman said, “The president had proved wrong a section of the northern elders who said the president cannot campaign in the North.

“We are confident that the President will campaign anywhere in Nigeria even in the North where it has been proved that he is popular against the propaganda advanced by spent horses.

“We are also confident that he will defeat his opponent in the poll.”

But the Arewa Youth Leaders and Stakeholders said the endorsement defeated the essence of democracy.

Like ACF, the AYLS believes that Jonathan’s endorsement denied the North the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s next president.

“Jonathan’s endorsement jettisoned the privileged position of the North to provide alternative leadership that would bring succour to Nigerians,” the group said in a communiqué

The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Indigbo, formed by some prominent Igbo leaders shortly after the civil war to protect the interest of all Igbo communities within and outside Nigeria, also appears to have been divided over who to support between Jonathan and Buhari.

The decision-making body of the socio-cultural organisation recently rejected a motion seeking to adopt Jonathan as the consensus candidate of Ndigbo for the February 14 presidential election.

The inner caucus of the organisation popularly known as Imeobi threw out the motion brought by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, seeking the endorsement of Jonathan.

The group said at its expanded meeting in Enugu that it would be suicidal for Ndigbo to endorse one candidate at the expense of the other, especially when Jonathan had failed to redeem promises he made to the South-East region.

Iwuanyanwu’s motion was not seconded leading to an indefinite adjournment of the meeting.

Even before the meeting was adjourned, the South-East Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Osita Oke­chukwu, queried Ohanaeze’s leadership on Jonathan’s achievement in the South-East region that should prompt his endorsement for re-election.

The issue of endorsement also sparked off controversy between the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide

While announcing his support for Buhari, MEND described the APC candidate as the best person to rebuild the country.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Gbomo Jomo, the militant group said the decision to support Buhari stemmed from the pathetic state in which the country found itself under Jonathan’s administration.

MEND said, “Our strong belief is that Gen. Buhari is the man and the change the country needs. President Goodluck Jonathan does not deserve a second more in the Presidency as soon as his tenure expires as he has continuously and blatantly disregarded the very people who voted him into office.

“A President that told Nigerians to their face that he does not ‘give a damn’ when asked to declare his assets should not be supported.

“President Jonathan, since assuming office, has set up countless number of committees none of whose reports had ever been implemented. Examples are the Nuhu Ribadu report to the KPMG and Fuel Subsidy reports, just to mention a few.”

But IYCW flayed MEND’s endorsement, saying that it was inconsequential.

It said MEND was a non-existent group and could not endorse anyone for election.

The group in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, said MEND was disbanded after its members accepted amnesty some years back.

The statement said, “The adoption of Gen. Buhari by the present MEND is inconsequential and of no electoral value as election is won by votes cast by physical and verifiable human beings.

“The real Niger-Delta freedom fighters are in support of President Jonathan’s second term ambition as demonstrated in the massive rally they held in his support in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, in November 2014 under the leadership of Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Pastor Reuben and others.”

The endorsement saga further deepened the crisis rocking the newly resuscitated Unity Party of Nigeria.

Its chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Sokoto, said the party had not adopted any presidential candidate contrary to a claim by the suspended UPN National Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, that the party had endorsed Jonathan for re-election.

He said UPN was not registered to serve or to actualise personal interest of individuals.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Sokoto said, “The UPN leadership did not authorise the suspended national chairman nor direct any official at any level to commit the party to support any presidential candidate.

“On behalf of the National Executive Committee of our party, I am urging the general public and party leaders to disregard the highest act of irresponsibility of the suspended national chairman.

“It is embarrassing to leaders and supporters of our party all over the country to learn the suspended national chairman declaring support for dragging the name of our party to ridicule.

“The National Executive Committee, which is the highest organ of the party, has not met to take a decision on the issue of presidential election.”

A political scientist, Mr. Kehinde Fasore, agreed that the groups could endorse candidates of their choice, but asked them to extend their responsibilities to campaigning against violence before, during and after the February 14 general elections.

Fasore said, “Though the socio-cultural groups may have done one thing or the order for the people, one would have expected them to assist in the mobilisation of eligible voters for the collection of their permanent voter cards to facilitate their participation in the elections.

“No sacrifice is too much to ensure the success of the next general elections; the groups should have by now demonstrated their commitment to the success of the polls, not just competing for endorsement of candidates as if there is a laurel to be won.”

            Source: Punch