The groups arrived in Abuja to participate in the solidarity rally scheduled for today (Thursday) in Abuja.
But the Arewa Consultative Forum on Wednesday warned the Niger Delta youth and other supporters of President Jonathan against holding any form of rally for the President in Abuja today.
However, the Founder/Life Patron of Jonathan Youth Vanguard, Mr. George Turnah, at a press briefing, stated that each of the 500 groups had signed to mobilise for the 2015 project.
According to him, the rally is being jointly organised by JYV and Niger-Delta Youth Leaders Council.
He said, "All logistics for a successful outing have been put in place; over one million people have since last night arrived in Abuja ahead of Thursday's rally. As we speak, over 500 pro-Jonathan support groups have so far signed in to this project and have also endorsed the candidacy of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidential elections, as well as his continuity beyond 2015."
Turnah said hotel reservations had been made for the youths, adding that the organisers had started decorating the city with posters, banners and bill-boards.
"Our mobilisation strategy for the rally remains as planned. Each of the 500 groups that have signed up for the rally has a mandate to mobilise 2,000 persons. From our records, all the groups have met their various targets," he said.
According to Turnah, the youths have been grouped into batches of 250,000 each from several entry points to Abuja to be driven by buses to the Eagle Square, venue of the rally.
He also denied that the group was being sponsored by the Presidency or any government agency.
However, the ACF noted that rather than holding the rally in Abuja, the Niger Delta youths should hold such a mass rally in the South-South for security reasons.
This, according to the Forum, is because "the mass movement of Nigerians from other parts of the country into Abuja at the time of the rally might likely cause security breaches and possibly be hijacked by hoodlums to cause havoc, including the likely destruction of lives and property.
"ACF calls upon supporters of Mr. President, wherever they are, to express such love and solidarity to Mr. President in their various domains, rather than mass movement to Abuja, the Federal Capital."
Also, the northern body noted that it was not against the youths organising the rally for the President but considered the entire exercise as ill-timed, ill-advised and flagrant disregard to the feelings of other Nigerians affected by the insecurity challenges in the land.
The ACF, through its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, in a statement in Kaduna on Wednesday, also accused the Niger-Delta youths of being insensitive to the plight of the North by their action.
The ACF noted that following the spate of bombings and other terrorism activities in the region, holding mass rally in support of the President for the 2015 Presidency was an indication that the Niger-Delta was insensitive to the insecurity in the region.
ACF stated, "Furthermore, such mass demonstration by some youths from certain sections of the country may portray them as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians that have been under siege by the various insurgency attacks and blasts.
"Inasmuch as the ACF is not against any peaceful rally or solidarity march by any group of persons in support of Mr. President or any cause, however, considering the insecurity in the country and in particular in the northern region, where there have been spate of blasts and attacks on innocent Nigerians. The Forum considered it as ill timed, ill-advised and a disregard to the feelings of other Nigerians affected by the insecurity challenges.
"In view of this, ACF wishes to advise the authorities concerned to ensure that such solidarity demonstrations are properly guided to avoid any likely security breaches.
"ACF equally appeals to the demonstrators to exercise caution and restraint in their utterances and actions in order not to insult the sensibilities of other Nigerians."
The PUNCH also observed a heavy presence of security men in most locations within the FCT.
PUNCH
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