The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), has appealed to Nigerians not to repeat the mistake of 2015 in the coming 2023 general elections by placing competence, capacity and integrity above every other consideration in the choice of leaders.
The National Coordinator of CNG, Comrade Jamilu Charanchi, made the call in Makurdi, Benue State, at a CNG-organised 2023 Election Sensitisation Conference, with the theme: “Politics of Sentiments, a Critical Factor Militating Development of Democracy in Nigeria; and with sub-theme: Religion and Ethnic Tolerance, Panacea to Nigeria’s Survival as a Nation”.
Comrade Charanchi decried the numerous socio-economic, political and communal crises as well as the widening ethnic and religious divide bedevilling the North over the years, which he attributed to the people and bad leadership.
He cautioned the electorate to properly scrutinise the politicians seeking their mandate in the coming elections in order to settle for those with proven integrity, pedigree, honesty and sound understanding of the challenges facing the region.
According to him, “The crux of the matter is that the electorate must map out their needs and refuse to be deceived by just any politician coming with the usual campaign promises that would never ever be fulfilled”.
“The northern voter must look out for credible candidates with proven pedigrees, honesty, sense of nationalism and sound understanding of the current challenges facing the region”, he emphasised.
“The CNG believes that the North and indeed the whole of Nigeria’s protracted social problems and conflicts found their origin in the misplacement of religious, ethnic and cultural values of the people. We are therefore concerned, and will not fold our arms and allow our future, and that of our children to be jeopardised by a few”, the group further stated.
Earlier, the Benue State Coordinator of CNG, Comrade Bernard Ekwote, who lauded the participants at the conference, tasked them to spread the message of the group to others to ensure a very peaceful 2023 general elections.
