Matawalle chides northern elders over attacks on Tinubu
The immediate past governor of Zamfara State and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, yesterday chided the Northern Elders’ Forum over its recent comment that it regretted voting Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president.
Matawalle, who also described the forum as a “political burden”, insisted that NEF is not, and can never speak for the region, adding that he and other leaders would not allow “some elements” to bring Northern region into disrepute.
Daily Trust recalls that the forum, through its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, had expressed regrets that the region voted for Tinubu during the 2023 election, noting that going forward, the region will prioritise unity and consensus in selecting a candidate for the highest office in the land.
But reacting on Saturday in a statement he personally signed and emailed to Daily Trust, Matawalle wondered why many people overlooked what he termed “overbearing attitude” of the forum on issues that affect political unity and cohesion of the country.
“The so-called NEF is more or less a political paperweight trying to embark on a destructive journey that will bring the North to disrepute for the group’s personal and selfish gains.
“This NEF is more of a political burden to Northerners. The group is seeking to erode other people’s rights in order to be recognised or made relevant in the scheme of things despite the failure of their sponsored candidates in the 2023 general elections.
“In as much as many have overlooked them in respect of their utterances, it is pertinent to underscore their overbearing attitude on issues that affect political unity and cohesion.
“They cannot offer any positive idea or thought about the future of Northern Nigeria or, indeed, of Nigeria and its unity and togetherness.
“We all know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR won the February 2023 presidential election convincingly. So, who is the NEF to want to undermine the president’s victory and even threaten to unseat him?”
The minister further argued that the same group of people had intentionally shied away from their responsibility of engendering unity in the North by appreciating the incremental development being brought to the North by ministers appointed by Tinubu from the North, especially North West.
According to him, the forum has not deemed it fit to seek audience with the president to discuss issues affecting the Northern region despite the numerous challenges facing the North as rightly highlighted by the president and being addressed by him.
“My advice to NEF and others alike is to support the present government and join hands with President Tinubu GCFR in order to further move the country forward,” he said.
When contacted for a reaction, the spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, neither answered several calls nor replied to messages sent to his mobile telephone line.