From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has warned that it would not tolerate intimidation of northerners gunning for the senate and speakership positions of the 10th Assembly.
CNG’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a statement, claimed that Abdulaziz Yari and some of his strong support pillars have been targeted for arrest and to be intimidated out of the contest for insisting on due process.
According to him, some electoral umpires were plotting to introduce what he called ‘suspicious electronic voting system’ in the process meant to track the pattern of voting in the National Assembly.
Suleiman called on President Bola Tinubu to stop the ploy to intimidate anyone exercising his or her right to vote and to be voted for.
“The Coalition of Northern Groups is worried by rising concerns that some elements bent on smearing the good relationship of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the North, are hatching evil plans to get key northern aspirants to the House of Representatives speakership as well as the aspirants to the Senate Presidency such as Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari and some of his strong support pillars arrested and intimidated out of the contest for insisting on due process.
“We understand too that the sinister plot also extends to aspirants to positions in the Federal House of Representatives who are targeted for undue harassment and intimidation.
“This plot as widely speculated, involves the introduction of a suspicious electronic voting system in the process meant to track the pattern of voting in the National Assembly.
“We are also aware of growing worries over plans to block lawmakers-elect opposed to the Senate Presidency’s ambition of Godswill Akpabio from gaining access to National Assembly on the day of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
“The CNG is particularly worried by its sincere conviction that these elements are hatching these evil plans without the consent of Mr President, with the sole aim of pitching him against the larger northern interest.
“CNG is, without the slightest doubt, convinced that by his democratic antecedents and abiding faith in the rule of law and sanctity enfranchisement, Mr President shall never be party to any conduct that tends to impeach anybody’s right to personal liberty and freedom from harassment.”
“This realization and other manifestations of evil being perpetrated by some unscrupulous political merchants, who pose as his friends, are the reasons why from the onset, CNG cautioned the President against the antics of desperate political dealers with very negative intentions by allowing the legislators to freely and fairly produce their leaders.
“As concerned northerners and well wishers of Mr President, we feel duty bound to once again draw his attention to this brewing plot and to call on him to move quickly and reassert his commitment to good, impartial governance to halt this sinister plot that potentially aims to set him up against particularly the North.
“We are sure Mr. President cannot afford to allow anybody no matter who, to cause any form of misunderstanding between him and the North, where he enjoys solid support and genuine friendship.
“It would be difficult not to remember that northern votes overwhelmingly went to President Tinubu and the APC to comprehensively ensure their victory at the polls.
“We are therefore calling on Mr President to move quickly as a renowned democrat and respecter of the rule of law to stop the ploy to intimidate anyone for exercising his right to vote and be voted for.
“Finally, we reiterate our earlier advice for the President not to interfere in the leadership selection process of the National Assembly, which is the sole prerogative of the elected legislators, and to alert him that those undertaking this insane scheme are not his friends; they are people who will not want to see him succeed.”