Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna
The Movement of Unity and Progress says a former Military Governor of the old Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar, is not a member of a new political movement, the ‘National Consultative Forum’.
Umar, a social critic, is the Chairman of the Kaduna-based MUP.
The NCF had announced its formation on Wednesday and the former governor and some other prominent Nigerians were named as members.
Umar was listed alongside a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba; a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Obadiah Mailafia; rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), Obi Ezekwesili, amongst others.
But a statement issued on Friday by Chris Ephraim, a member of the MUP, on behalf of the former Kaduna governor, Umar dissociated himself from the new political group.
The MUP noted that the former governor neither attended the meeting of the group nor was consulted before he was listed among other notable Nigerians.
The statement read, “A group under the auspices of select National Leaders of conscience met between Wednesday 27th May 2020 to Friday 12th June 2020 and issued a communique with the name of Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar as one of the attendees and a member.
“Although Colonel Umar was made aware of attempts to invite him to the meeting, such attempts were unsuccessful.
“He, therefore, did not attend the meeting nor was he made aware of his membership.
“Colonel Umar does not wish to deny the group, whose membership includes persons he holds in high esteem. He, however, wished he was consulted before the publication that included his name.”
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