Politics

Arewa elders disagree with Arewa Consultative Forum, others on Buhari

Published

9 years ago

May 12, 2017

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has declared full support for President Muhammadu Buhari and his government’s respect for the rule of law no matter what any group of mischiefs say.

“Buhari has confronted the issue that has been disturbing us by tackling the insurgency which had caused a lot of havoc in the region especially the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa,” NEF’s Deputy Leader Paul Unongo said on Thursday after the forum met in Kano.

NEF is about the only group from the north that has good words for the APC government.

Others like the Arewa Consultative Forum, its youth wing the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, and the Coalition for Northern Politicians have been hitting hard at Buhari for disrespecting the constitution.

They accused of using security agencies to persecute political enemies in the name of anti-corruption, and for hiding from Nigerians information about his health.

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Junaid Mohammed, a former lawmaker and leader of CNP, recently ripped into the president for issues ranging from his health to the anti-corruption war and the Aso Rock cabal sidelining VP Yemi Osinbajo.

“This government has been lying and they imagine they can succeed in deceiving all Nigerians at the same time. From all indications, their game is over. As I am talking to you, I am convinced that President Buhari’s presidency is dead” he said.

But NEF encouraged Osinbajo never to bother.

“We urge him to ignore mischief which seeks to pitch him against the President or the Nigerian people whose mandates they both exercise,” Unongo said.

“The Forum expresses its full support and encouragement behind Acting President Osinbajo and urges him to exercise responsibility, as he did in the past, with commitment, sensitivity and respect for the Constitution.

Since Buhari came to power in 2015, his government has been mostly criticised by the northern elite who believe he is a retired general with antecedents that are not democratic.