The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has berated the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) over its recent comment that it regretted supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election.

The NEF also stated that it would prioritise someone seen as “more inclusive, less controversial, and more aligned with the interests of all regions of the country”.

However, Matawalle, in a statement issued on Saturday, April 13, 2024, said the NEF was seeking political relevance to overburden the Presidency and create political disunity among Nigerians.

Matawalle described the NEF’s statement expressing regret for voting for Tinubu in the 2023 election as unfortunate, noting that the group 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.”

The minister added: “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?

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“This same group of people have 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 President Tinubu from the North, especially North West.

“The NEF has not deemed it fit to seek audience with Mr. 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.

“The group is yet to visit any of the ministers dealing with issues of security, agriculture, water resources, police affairs, education, health, budget, foreign affairs, or any head of security agencies in the country so far for first-hand knowledge of government programs and actions.

“The majority of them are more interested in faulting the government so as to be recognised or accorded some relevance.”

Matawalle stressed that the North is united, disciplined, and politically driven enough not to listen and accept being teleguided by any group of elites.

He said President Tinubu is poised to do a lot for the North as President of Nigeria, “elected by the people of Nigeria, not by one ethnic group or the other, therefore, anyone mistakenly seeing President Tinubu as a failure or a weakling is making a mistake and should rethink.”

“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,” the minister added.

The Star