The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said it warned Nigerians of President Muhammadu Buhari’s inability to secure the country ahead of the 2019 general election.
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In a statement signed by Ango Abdullahi, convener of the forum, the group said despite the obvious poor state of insecurity Buhari is still in “deep denial over the result of his failures to secure Nigerians”.
It urged Buhari to overhaul the leaders if the country;s security and public safety agencies, saying the agencies need higher levels of integrity, competence and accountability.
“The Forum regrets that by any standard of judgement, the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the nation in the vital area of improving its security. Poverty, particularly in the North, and massive social security have worsened under this administration. The relationship between insecurity and poverty is fundamental, but the administration does not appear to have any idea on what will provide relief or solution.
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“It gives the Forum no pleasure to say that it had warned Nigerians that President Buhari lacked the will, the competence and commitment to lead it into a secure and prosperous future before the 2019 elections. It is shocking that in spite of unprecedented consensus among Nigerians that the administration requires a new resolve, approach and leadership in the fight against the nation’s multiple security challenges, President Buhari appears either totally isolated or in deep denial over the result of his failures to secure Nigerians.
“With this type of mind set, it is difficult to see how President Buhari can accept the challenge to radically improve his handling of our security situation. Nonetheless, we believe that Nigerians must continue to raise our voices and organize through all legitimate means to demand that the administration addresses major failings in his perception of our situation and his response to our demands for our rights to security.
“The Forum demands a thorough overhaul of the leadership of our security and public safety agencies, and the injection of higher levels of competence, integrity and accountability in the manner our troops and the police and security agencies deal with security challenges.
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“We appeal to our religious leaders and fellow citizens not to fall into the trap of insurgents to set us up against each other. We condemn the tactic of targeting Christians and publicising their executions by an insurgency seeking to exploit our different faiths. We also condemn the murder of thousands of Muslims and Christians in communities which the insurgency has made permanent targets in the last decade. These are times when we must unite and resist a common enemy as well us demand that our leaders protect us all as Nigerians,” the statement read in part.
NEF also said it is not against the idea of establishing regional security outfits but said such outfits must “find accommodation within our laws, and must not be designed to threaten or harass particular groups or interests.” It noted that all governments must “exercise higher levels of restraint and responsibility in the manner they respond to the challenges of improving our security and safety.”
The Forum said the region would not allow some political elements to exploit them in their bid to win the 2023 general elections.
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“We want to make it clear that people of the North will be very careful in committing to persons seeking their support on the basis of their region or wealth. The North knows its interests, and will stand together to elect only persons who meet the standards and interests of the people of the North.
“No politician should assume that they are entitled to our support unless they show a clear understanding and a commitment to deal with our problems and meet our aspirations,” the forum said.
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