OLUSOLA FABIYI FRIDAY OLOKOR
Northern leaders recently warned members of the Northern Political Forum led by a former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, to desist from making inflammatory statement over the October 1 bombings in Abuja.
The leaders, under the aegis of Northern Political Summit otherwise known as G20, unambiguously condemned the call by Ciroma and his group on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign or be impeached over the Abuja bomb blast.
It will be recalled that Ciroma had stated in a press release that if the President failed to resign, the National Assembly should commence impeachment proceeding against him.
But the northern leaders said the statement credited to Ciroma was not a collective decision of the region, adding that the likes of the former minister should desist from undermining the unity of the country with his provocative and disruptive comments on national issues.
The group also called on the security agencies not to spare provocateurs and those that would want to undermine the nation's security with their unpatriotic actions.
The secretary of the group, Alhaji Buahri Bala, stated these in a press statement made available to journalists.
Members of the group are Chief Soloman Lar, Amb. Hassan Adamu, Amb. Shehu Malami, Prof. Jerry Gana, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Sen. Ibrahim Ida, Sen. Bala Mohammed, Prince Abubakar Audu, Dr. Rabiu Kwankaso, Malam Maina Waziri, Engr. Mohammed Abba Gana, Boni Haruna.
Others include Prof. Saad Abubakar, Col. Bala Mande (retd.), Mrs. Magaret Icheen, Chief Mrs. Salome Jakanda, Dr. Christie Silas, Maj. Gen Zamani Lekwot (retd.), Paul Unongo, Alh, Ali Umar and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) among several others.
The group said, Given the serious nature of these tragic events, we denounce, in strong terms, attempts being made by some political leaders to politicize this matter.
Surely it is far better to work together to move Nigeria away from the quicksand of ethnic and regional politics to the solid rock of national integration based on justice, social harmony and national security.
People should not attempt to get anything or seek redress illegally or from outside of due process because in a democracy, it is through the ballot that people got elected and not through undemocratic process of incitements, dubious means and unfounded impeachment threats.
In a country that is striving to fully democratize and insisting on one man one vote, such dubious means should not be allowed.
On the 2011 general election, the group urged the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission to promptly resolve any outstanding issues about the programme for the elections.
Meanwhile, a group loyal to the presidency, Congress for Equality and Change, on Friday night, advised the security agencies to arrest Ciroma.
The organisation described Ciroma's outburst as clear evidence of plans to destabilise the polity and preempt the results of the 2011 election.
The Chairman of the group, Senator Ameh Ebute, who said this at a press briefing in Abuja, regretted that Mallam Ciroma, who was unable to curtail activities of Boko Haram in his domain, was spearheading the call for the resignation of the President to cause chaos.
Ameh, a Senator in the aborted Third Republic said, Threatening Mr. President to resign within seven days or be impeached is to say the least clearly a treasonable felony.
The Congress advised Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political inclinations, to support the president's efforts in fighting terrorism, kidnapping and other social vices.
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