From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Coalition of Concerned Northern Groups (CCNG) has faulted recent threat by Northern Elders Forum (NEF) against reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 general elections, saying the Forum was not being fair to the President.
The spokesperson of NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman in a recent media interview on state of the nation said Northern region regretted voting Tinubu into power, adding that the region will not vote him in 2027 elections.
In a statement reacting to NEF outburst, President of CCNG, Muhammad Ibrahim described NEF statement as empty and ill-fated to wrongly paint the good intentions President Tinubu in the eyes of the public.
“We wish to draw the attention of the NEF that it is a very unwise move for it to engage in such a slander especially now that the hard work of the President is seen by Nigerians to be manifesting practically.
“It baffles us that the NEF was silent when the former President Muhammadu Buhari regime killed hundreds of innocent men, women and children when it clampdown on Shi’ites Members in Zaria, Kaduna State in 2015. Were they not northerners that were murdered in an extrajudicial manner?
“Was it not during the Buhari regime that the banditry became more prominent in the Northwest, a situation that has virtually killed the farming occupation in the region and destroyed lives and property. Yet the NEF never rose against that.
“We are hardly two years into this regime which started on a very difficult footing with many things to be put aright after being detracted by the immediate past regime. Hence, it will be un-elderly of an elders’ forum to demonize this regime instead of giving it the benefit of doubt.
“Reviewing the NEF claims that they mobilized the north in favour of President Tinubu, even as his major contender, Atiku Abubakar was a northerner, cannot be substantiated because they have no such influence over the electorate in the region.
“In comparison with the Buhari regime, the NEF is not fair to President Tinubu who is currently enjoying the goodwill of Nigerians because of his commitment to national development and progress.
“We wish to state categorically that the CCNG, a coalition of concerned Northern Groups, is passing a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmad Tinubu while calling on the NEF to reconsider its stance in the interest of the north and the northerners”. The statement said.