Tag: Northern Elders Forum

Worsening Insecurity: Northern Elders ask Buhari to resign

Aminu Imam

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has demanded the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over the worsening insecurity ravaging several parts of the country. In an issued statement yesterday, signed by its media chief, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Forum called for the presidents resignation over his inability to halt the heavy insecurity bedeviling the country. The statement read in part: The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari does not appear to have answers to the challenges of security to which we are exposed. We cannot continue to live and die under…

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“Why Im opposed to power shift” Ango Abdullahi

Aminu Imam

The convener of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, has declared that he is not in support of zoning the 2023 presidency in Nigeria. According to the former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, zoning is not found in the Nigerian constitution and it is important to follow the law. While stressing that he doesnt believe in power shift, rotation or zoning, Abdullahi stressed that the beauty of democracy is to allow every qualified individual to join the race and the people determine who they want…

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“Buhari is North’s ‘mistake’, a disappointment to entire country” Northern Elders

Aminu Imam

Says “We’ll vote for a ‘competent’ Nigerian president in 2023” The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has said President Muhammadu Buhari is a disappointment to not just the North, but the entire country, adding that they wont repeat the mistake of voting for just any candidate based on sentiment as they did during the last election. This was disclosed yesterday, by the NEFs Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, during an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the meeting of Northern Leaders of Thought and groups, which was…

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Northern Elders to Buhari: “You dont have final say on Restructuring, State Police, Nnamdi Kanu, others”

Aminu Imam

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has told President Muhammadu Buhari that he does not have the final say on issues of Nigeria’s restructuring, State Police and release of detained agitators for self-determination. The NEF stated this through its spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in reaction to President Buharis position on the issues. Recall that the President had, in an exclusive interview on a television programme on Wednesday, reacted to the issues, ruling out State Police and his intervention in the case involving the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi…

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Northern elders demand postponement of planned National Census

Aminu Imam

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has asked the Federal Government to potspone its proposed National Census scheduled for next year until after the 2023 general elections. Spokesman of the pan-Arewa socio-political organisation, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in an issued statement, yesterday, said the integrity and success of a sensitive and vital activity such as this will be compromised by destabilised and threatened communities and proximity to another sensitive activity such as general elections. The NEF said, “The Forum invites attention to the hardship under which the vast majority of the population lives.…

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‘Fuel price increment will compound hardship of Nigerians’ ? Northern Elders Forum

Aminu Imam

Cautions against profiling of bandits as terroristsWarns against release of Nnamdi Kanu The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has said that the planned increase of fuel price will compound the already desperate condition of living of most Nigerians. This is contained in a statement issued by the NEF’s Director, Publicity, and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed. This is just as the Forum drew the attention of the Government to the hardship under which the vast majority of Nigerians live. The statement said, amongst others, that the Forum invites attention to the hardship…

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2023: North Elders Forum, Youths lists criteria for presidential candidates

Aminu Imam

Rejects aged aspirants As a build-up to the 2023 fresh elections, Northern leaders and youths have warned that any political party that fields an aged, incompetent, or incapable candidate should forget the regions votes. Spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who made this known at the Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series organised by the Students Wing of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) Borno State chapter, on Thursday, warned that the North will turn its back on any party that deliberately and specifically tilts advantages to candidates from particular…

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VAT: North is rich, can live without billions accruing to Southern states NEF

Aminu Imam

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), says the north is a rich region and can survive on its resources without the billions accruing to Southern States. NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, made this known when he featured on a television programme yesterday. He was reacting to the tussle between states and the Federal Government on the collection of Value Added Tax. VAT is a consumption tax paid when goods are purchased and services are rendered. It is charged at a rate of 7.5%. Although Rivers and Lagos…

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2023 Presidency: “North is not for sale” – Northern Elders tell southern governors

Aminu Imam

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has said that the North is not for sale no matter the pressure or antics from the southern governors to zone the presidency to the South.  The NEF spokesman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, disclosed this at the weekend while delivering a keynote address at the inaugural ‘Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series‘, organised by the Students Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG). According to him, There are clearly Nigerians who believe that because the economy of the North has already crumbled, we are running away…

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Insecurity: Shutdown of communication, closure of schools, others will worsen citizens’ lives in North ? NEF

Aminu Imam

The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), has said that the recent suspension of weekly markets, restrictions on the sale of petrol, curfews, movement of cattle and restriction communication, in the northern part of the country will compound the desperate conditions of living of many communities in the region. NEF said it is closely following the condition of many northern communities that have become particularly vulnerable to attacks and abuse by bandits, kidnappers and related organised criminals. The Director, Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement made available…

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