By Aminu Kutama
The Arewa Joint Forum has responded to a decision by the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to boycott the interactive session with presidential candidates on Monday, in Kaduna.
Several groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum, Arewa House, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Northern Elders Forum and Arewa Research and Development Project, among others are the organizers of the interactive session.
In a statement by one of the organizers of the forum, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, which he posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, the forum denied Kwankwaso’s allegation of favoritism, adding that the forum has only provided a level playing ground for all the major presidential candidates to present their plans before the public.
The forum further denied any involvement of some of its members in selling the candidacy of a particular candidate, by using the interactive session to prepare the ground for his endorsement by the forum as alleged by the NNPP presidential candidate.
“The Arewa Joint Forum which is sitting in Kaduna with the presidential candidates in public, is not for sale. And does not have any ulterior motive. The Forum is also not favoring any candidate over the other, and it welcomes anyone that comes, and we are not angry with anyone that doesn’t.
“We only said everyone should come and table their plans, and if anyone says he is not going, no problem, the people will judge accordingly
“It is important for people to understand that there are a lot of people who are not sellable, or can be made to do anything that will cheat Nigeria and Nigerians,” Dr Hakeem added.
