Make Sacrifices For National Dev, ACF Tells Nigerians

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on Nigerians to make sacrifices for peace and development of the country.

Mr. Anthony Manzo, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen, in Kaduna .

Manzo also urged ministers sacked by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday to consider the dissolution of the cabinet as part of the sacrifices needed for national development.

“If dissolution is the sacrifice the sacked council members have to make for the nation to move forward, then it is not too much a price,’’ he said.

According to him, the acting president has no other option than to dissolve the Executuve Council of the Federation because of the “deep divide’’ among its members.

The spokesman explained that the polarisation was affecting the unity of the country negatively.

“As a result, the only option left for Goodluck was to dispense of their services, in favour of a new cabinet that can provide order and direction to a nation that is about being branded dysfunctional.

“ACF therefore appealed to Nigerians and other friends of the country to assist the acting president in stabilising the polity and providing good governance.

Similarly, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Governor of old Kaduna State, said the opposition supported the Acting President because of constitutionalism.

Balarabe said  that the country was yearning for good governance and stability.

On his part, Mr. Festus Okoye, the Executive Director of Human Rights Monitor, said Goodluck was acting within the precincts of the Constitution until the health of the  substantive president improved.

Okoye, however, advised the acting president to avoid actions that could heat up the polity and encourage anti-democratic forces to derail the country’s democratic process.

The Action Congress (AC), in Kaduna State also advised Jonathan to consider the younger generation in re-constituting the council, to fast track the progress of the country.

AC’s spokesman in the state, Mohammed Soba, said the country needed a dynamic, visionary, disciplined and patriotic leader now more than ever before.