Posted by From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) yesterday rose from its 5th conference held in Minna, Niger State, with a call on legislative houses.....
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) yesterday rose from its 5th conference held in Minna, Niger State, with a call on legislative houses in the three tiers of government to be alive to their responsibilities and avert the depletion of government treasuries as President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration winds down.
The Forum, which noted 'with alarm the depletion of government treasury by previous outgoing administrations especially at the time of handover," also 'urged the present administration at all tiers of government to exercise restraint and ensure prudence in the utilisation of public funds for the good of Nigerian people."
According to the three-page communiqué signed by Senators Idris Kuta and Saidu Dansadau, NSF's chairman and secretary-general respectively, the group charged 'political leaders and politicians aspiring for elective offices in 2007 to emulate the humility and honesty of the First Republic leaders."
Appealing to Obasanjo and the leadership of political parties to ensure that 'there is a fair, open, transparent and credible process leading to, and including the conduct of next year's general election," the NSF also reaffirmed its earlier resolution that power should rotate back to the North in 2007.
'The Presidency of Nigeria should rotate back to the North in 2007, consistent with earlier agreements and the need to entrench the principles of fairness, equity and justice, to guarantee the sustenance of peace, unity and stability of our great country," the communiqué further stated.
The forum, in expressing its readiness to 'resist any attempt to circumvent due process leading to credible succession in 2007 with more renewed vigour than demonstrated during the third term imbroglio," commended the leadership and entire National Assembly members as well as the media over the legislative resolution of the third term bid 'to the admiration of Nigerians both at home and abroad.
'Similarly, the conference commends the statesmanship of Mr. President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for his acceptance of the resolution (on third term)," the communiqué added.
In his welcome address to the leadership and members of NSF, Kure had apologised to the people of the South-south geo-political zone over a statement credited to him (Kure) that no candidate from the South-south is competent to rule Nigeria.
"I was in a gathering and I believe that Senator Jubril Aminu must have heard this, the deputy senate president (Senator Ibrahim Nasir Mantu) knows about this; the NFS chairman (Senator Idris Kuta) was there and a number of governors were there," he said adding, "President (Olusegun) Obasanjo and the Board of Trustees chairman (Anenih) were there. I know that there are 37 registered parties now but the PDP's position at that meeting was that in 2007, the President of Nigeria should come from the North.
The Niger State governor did not state when and where the meeting held. He also failed to disclose the other governors at the said meeting.
Kure said, "Leaders are expected to be just and fair and no matter how we play the game that is going on, the next President will come from the North. And for my compatriots in the North, this is the time to use our brain than just saying something.
"By the grace of God, there will be a smooth transition on May 29, 2007 and the next President will come from the North."
The issue of which zone will produce the President in 2007 has been contentious for sometime. While the North has continued to insist that power should shift to it after eight years in the South, the South-south and South-east are also laying strong claim to the exalted office in 2007 saying the power rotation arrangement should not be on the basis of region but geopolitical zones.