Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has blasted the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for faulting the present administration, describing the group as a political burden to northerners which doesn’t represent the region.
Reacting to an interview where Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesman of the forum, said the north regretted voting President Bola Tinubu, Matawalle said the group is naive.
“My attention has been drawn to the threats issued by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is ‘reprehensible and naive’. It is preposterous for a group of people seeking political relevance to overburden the system and create political disunity among Nigerians.
“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.”
He maintained that the NEF doesn’t have the power to challenge Tinubu’s victory at the 2027.
