Only your democratically elected leadership takes decisions for Nigeria, no one else, Presidency assures Nigerians

By KEMI KASUMU

Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Tuesday, reacted to a statement by Northern Elders Forum in which Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, speaking for the group, said the Igbo people of the country clamouring for Biafra country can go and make good their desire.

In the Presidency’s reaction contained in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, dated May 17, 2022 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, it said, “We are aware of the latest statement from the so-called “Northern Elders Forum.”

But, in a the statement titled “STATEMENT ON THE CALL BY “NORTHERN ELDERS FORUM” ASKING A SECTION OF THE COUNTRY TO LEAVE THE FEDERATION”, it assured that the leader Nigerians voted to the country remains the one that takes decisions for the country and there will be no possibility for anyone else to do that except him.

“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?

“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,” the Presidency said in the Garba Shehu’s statement.