Some prominent Northern groups have condemned President Godluck Jonathan’s visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The groups, which doubted the sincerity of the visit, said the President’s trip would remind the residents of the neglect they had suffered under the Jonathan-led administration since Boko Haram began unleashing terror on them in the past six years.
Jonathan on Thursday made a surprise visit to Maiduguri, shortly before 3:00 pm after laying wreaths as part of the activities marking the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja.
The President, who was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, military top brass and the National Security Adviser as well as about 200 soldiers, was welcome by the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.
The northern groups said the President did not deserve the votes of the “abandoned” people if the purpose of the visit was to seek their support.
The Arewa Consultative Forum insisted on Thursday that President Goodluck Jonathan should forget about their votes in the February 14 election.
A member of the Board of trustees of the ACF, who craved anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, told Saturday PUNCH in Kaduna that Jonathan’s sudden visit to Maiduguri because of election was medicine after death.
“The North had spoken through the umbrella body of the region that we are going to vote for our own and that is the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd).”
He noted that the President’s visit was a belated one, asking: “who is fooling who?” He added that the President’s visit to Maiduguri was a slap on the entire people of the region.
The Chairman, National Executive Committee of the ACF and former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, had said the region would support Buhari for the February 14, election.The forum had said, “It is the policy of the ACF to support any northerner in any presidential election.
“The ACF therefore wishes to reaffirm that statement and dissociates itself from any contrary statement issued by any other member of the forum,” it added.Similarly, the Secretary, Borno Elders’ Forum, Bulama Gubio, said the President’s “unusual gesture” meant nothing to the residents.Read more
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