The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) under the leadership of Professor Ango Abdullahi has clarified that the forum, as well as the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), do not constitute a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.
The group insisted that on the contrary, what they are doing is to provide a voice to the menace going on in the North.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the forum’s Director of Publicity, Mr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Friday.
He said the recent strike by the CNG should not be seen as an attempt to subdue the government but rather to tell the government that enough of these killings and wanton destructions in the region.
However, according to Baba Ahmed, the Northern Elders Forum has therefore engaged the CNG in discussions to prevent subversion of its otherwise commendable efforts to organize peaceful marches and protests.
“We both took cognizance of some positive developments since the Minna and Katsina marches. President Muhammadu Buhari had appealed to people in Katsina to be patient as plans to clear the State of bandits are underway.
“After the marches, President Buhari dispatched high-powered delegates to some States in the North West to meet with Governors and convey his concerns and plans to take firmer action against banditry, rustlers, kidnappers and rapists who have made lives of our people virtually valueless.
President Buhari had earlier met with service chiefs and expressed his disappointment at their records and performance, and directed them to do better to protect our communities.
“All these are evidence that the administration is taking note of the growing outrage from many quarters, but particularly from the courage and the faith of members of the CNG that change comes only when we raise our voices and act against indifference and incompetence.
“The North should be encouraged to raise their levels of vigilance and organization to demand that our elected leaders live up to their oath to secure Nigerians.
“As we await the outcome of their deliberation on this, we wish to draw the attention of President Buhari and all governments that neither the Forum nor the CNG represents a threat to them.
“We do, however, represent voices that need to be heard in our current circumstance in the North.”