By Joseph Edegbo:
As the 2019 presidential election draws closer, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Trust, Joel Gbenga Olawepo Hashim has met with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to acquaint the leadership with his vision and mission for Nigeria, just as the Forum declares that it has no specific candidate, or aligned with any political party.
The visit of the presidential candidate may not be unconnected with the important role the ACF plays in the political equation of the North.
Receiving the Presidential Candidate alongside other chieftains of the forum, Acting Chairman of ACF, Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande said, “we do not align ourselves to any individual or political party.”
The ACF chairman said, what the forum wants to see in presidential candidate is a genuine, very positive and pragmatic policies and measures to fight against corruption, insecurity, impunity, anarchy and a host of other disingenuous activities which, if not effectively contained, would certainly be the bane of the nation’s progress and development as a people and one cohesive nation.
According to Kwande, “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), as you are aware, is a non-partisan, non-political, non-religious body devoid of any ethnic or tribal sentiments. Thus, its status as the foremost Northern socio-cultural organization which tries to promote peace, unity, justice and the rule of law, with the main thrust to promoting and protecting the interest and development of North and its people, within the context of one indivisible nation, is not in question.
”In our non-partisan disposition, we do not align ourselves to any individual or political party. Rather, we strive to weigh the scale on what is good for the North in particular and the overall good of the nation.
“As we hold the belief that every aspirant to the office of the President of our great country should have an articulate and thorough blueprint that will catapult the country to be among the comity of
Great nations. We expect to see genuinely, the very positive and pragmatic policies and measures put in place to fight against corruption, insecurity, impunity, anarchy and a host of other disingenuous activities which, if not effectively contained, would certainly be the bane of our progress and development as a people and one cohesive nation.
“I understand that you have availed yourself to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019, under the platform of the People’s Trust (PT). I feel quite enthused to acknowledge the emergence of new breed politicians like your humble self-vying for the various elective offices in our nascent democratic dispensation which, by and large, has the potential to engender healthy political process as we strive to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far.
“As you are quite aware, Nigeria’s political and democratic terrain, at this moment in time, is fraught with negative underpinning that we must all, as citizens and political actors, cultivate the will and courage, to free our country from all that we see could militate against its progress and development in all ramifications. Nigeria’s emergence in a multi-party democracy is a healthy development in our onerous task of nation building.
“It is therefore significant, under the prevailing situation in our nationhood, to witness-quite-a prolific array of political formations and platforms under which each and every Nigerian can have expression. We herefore welcome your emergence of political parties and your good self as the Presidential candidate of one of the new parties, the People’s Trust (PT).” ACF chair said.
The forum therefore appealed to leaders of various political parties to ensure they live by the letters and spirit of the Abuja Peace Accord put up by the National Peace Committee under the Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, which they all signed and pledged to uphold.
Earlier in his remarks, the PT presidential candidate, who hails from Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria harped on the need to unite Nigerians and build a virile economy that can support the nation’s growing population.
According to him, “Nigeria has been badly divided more than ever before. So, our plan is to stop insecurity and return the country to a united nation like it was at independence. Though, North is the largest part of the country, but we must unite with smaller units who feel threatened, and mend the broken bones.” He said.
On the economy, Hashim noted that there is too much hunger in the land because the present nation’s economy is too small to take care of its population.
“With my over 27 years’ experience in business, where I have invested immensely in infrastructure and human capital. I have the experience to build the biggest economy that can take care of our population. I will build a N4 trillion economy for Nigeria in 10 years, which will employ 40 million citizens.” He said