What Northern elders said about Tinubu’s ambition 2027

By KEMI KASUMU

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has revealed that it waa a serious mistake it made voting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023 and vows it will not repeat such mistake again in 2027.

It said Nigerians in the region are regretting their support for the President Tinubu in the 2023 election.

Spokesman of the Forum, AbdulAzeez Suleiman, who made the claim in an interview with Guardian on Tuesday, noted that in subsequent polls, particularly the 2027 general elections, the region will prioritize unity and consensus in selecting a candidate for the highest office in Nigeria against Tinubu’s 2023 election that happen.

According to the statement, “The North made a mistake in voting Bola Tinubu to the presidency in 2023, and it is unlikely that they will repeat the same error in the future.

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“They have learned from their past misstep and will strive to select a candidate who can unite the country and govern in the best interests of all Nigerians.

“Moving forward, the North will be more cautious in selecting a candidate for the presidency. They will prioritize someone who is seen as more inclusive, less controversial, and more aligned with the interests of all regions of the country”, it said.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled the highest votes from the region to beat his major contenders, including a Northerner, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second and Peter Obi of Labour Party(LP), who came a distant third.

Since his inauguration in May 2023, the president has been widely criticised over some policies of his administration, which were tagged by the opposition as anti-masses.

Tinubu was also accused by Northern groups of lopsided appointments in the federal government.

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had also recently reacted to the release of the abducted pupils of LEA Primary School, Kuriga, Chikum Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Sunday, forum spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said the incident is another sad reminder of the need for improved security measures.

He said though the release of 137 schoolchildren should be celebrated, it should serve as a “wake-up call for all of us.”