Presidency slams Northern elders over calls for break-up

Garba Shehu

The Presidency has lashed out at the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for asking a region of the country to leave the federation.

The Presidency said elected leaders in the country take decisions that regulate the affairs of the nation, noting that no self-appointed and un-elected group can take the right from Nigerians.

It made this known via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The statement was titled, ‘Statement on the call by Northern Elders Forum asking a section of the country to leave the federation’.

Shehu reiterated that Nigerians listen to elected leaders and not “opinionated tin-gods who have no traction with any responsible group”.

The presidential spokesperson stated: “We are aware of the latest statement from the so-called “Northern Elders Forum”.

“We wish to reassure Nigerians that it remains their democratically elected leadership which takes the decisions that steer our nation – and no one else.

“No self-appointed and unelected group can take this right from Nigerians – no matter how much coverage they might enjoy in the media. Nigerians listen to elected leaders, not opinionated tin-gods who have no traction with any responsible group.

“It is a delusional arrogance that would lead such a group to publicly state terms and conditions for the existence of our nation.

“Who gave them the right to ask for the exclusion, or expulsion of any one, group or section of the country from the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”

Shehu added that the Federal Government does not take advice from such groups, saying the government officials only listen to the citizens who voted them into power.

He noted that a group which has not been elected to a leadership role cannot be recognised as “leaders”.

He said: “The Nigerian government does not take guidance nor invitations from such groups – only from the Nigerian people who put governments in office.

“Any group can refer to themselves as “leaders”, but in Nigeria, if you have not been elected by Nigerians to a leadership role, then you are not – and the government certainly doesn’t recognise you as such.

“Like many other countries around the world, Nigeria is feeling the strain of the current period of volatility and uncertainty. Now is not the time to seek to exacerbate divisions amongst Nigerians.

“Rather, we call on all Nigerians to come together and work to overcome the challenges we face as one nation, one people,” Shehu stated.

The Star