Consensus candidate: We have not endorsed anybody - Northern Xtians

AS controversy continues to trail the consensus arrangement initiated by the Northern Political Elders Forum (NPLF), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), North-Central chapter, has disassociated itself from the alleged endorsement of the contraption by its northern chapter, saying that the chapter was expected to meet with aspirants from the geopolitical zone on Tuesday next week.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Jos, the North-Central chairman of CAN, Reverend Yakubu Pam, disclosed that presidential aspirants from the zone—former President Ibrahim Babangida, Mrs Serah Jibril, Governor Bukola Saraki—were expected to meet with the chapter on Tuesday next week over their aspirations.

Reverend Pam said he had met with his executive team over the purported endorsement of the consensus arrangement by the northern CAN, adding that the person who claimed to have represented the northern CAN spoke for himself, not the body he claimed to have represented.

“As far as we are concerned in the North-Central, we are not part of the decision, nobody discussed the issue with us before the pronouncement was made. At our level here, we are meeting with the presidential aspirants from this zone on Tuesday next week on their aspirations. The three of them are the former President Ibrahim Babangida, Governor Bukola Saraki and Mrs Serah Jibril,” he said.

The North-Central chairman, who said the primary concern of CAN was the unity of Nigeria, added that the interest of the body was not just for the Christians but also to have good leaders at all levels in the country.

In a related development, the senator representing Plateau Central, Senator Sati Gogwim, had stated that plans by some people in the North to produce a consensus aspirant against President Goodluck Jonathan was never a threat to the president.

The senator told the Nigerian Tribune that the likes of the NPLF leader, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, could not speak for the entire North because their emergence as leaders was not endorsed by the entire North, adding they were just a group of aggrieved people who simply wanted to take on President Jonathan for their selfish interest.

“Nobody is losing sleep over their planned consensus arrangement but I want people to know that Mallam Adamu Ciroma and others are not speaking for the North. We in the Middle Belt are not bothered because they did not recognise us as part of the North,” he said.

Senator Gogwim said if those who constituted themselves as the northern leaders actually were championing the cause of the entire North, they should come out for assessment to determine if they were credible to negotiate for the North.

He charged Nigerians to learn to appreciate those in positions of authority, adding that in the past few months of being in the saddle, President Jonathan had proved his worth and zeal to move the nation forward.

“Nigerians should give him a chance. He has demonstrated that he is capable of steering the affairs of this nation. The circumstances surrounding his emergence as president of this country is enough to convince all that the hand of God is upon him.”