PAC should promote peace —MP

From BALA ABDULLAHI, Kano |

THE General T.Y. Danjuma-led Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) should be fair to Nigeria by advising Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on issues that will unite and promote peace rather than on issues that will heat the polity. This was disclosed by the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Education, Alhaji Faruk Lawan while fielding questions from newsmen in Kano at the weekend.

He said such advice was imperative because, according to him, what the country needed at this trying period is peace, tolerance, unity of purpose as well as caution in our various comments on national issues.

Alhaji Faruk Lawan added that members of the all important council have a great role to play in helping the acting president stabilize the polity and move the country forward, adding such feat could be achieved only if members of the committee resolved to be fair to the country in addressing issues that would seek to unite the entire country.

On the issue of the appointment of a vice-president, to which some PDP state governors were alleged to be jostling for, Alhaji Faruk said the issue of appointing a new person to occupy the office of the vice-president does not arise for now, saying that as Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan can’t have a vice-president.

He said a vice- president can only be appointed for a substantive president and not for an acting president, adding unless by providence, Dr. Goodluck becomes the president only then the issue of appointing a vice president would arise.

Alhaji Faruk said his hope was that the acting president would settle down, concentrate and face the full challenge of governance so as to consolidate on the gains so far achieved.