- You’re not making sense – Presidency
Coming from the most unlikely of quarters, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has sensationally declared that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in the leadership of Nigeria.
The NEF, led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, is believed to be a rabid advocate of Buhari’s presidency, which it anchored on the latter’s perceived transparency and incorruptibility.
But the group changed its avowed stance at the week end. Indeed its Director of Advocacy and Engagements, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, declared in Kaduna on Sunday that they are disappointed in the way Buhari is running the affairs of Nigeria.
Baba-Ahmed said: “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.
“The forum regrets that by any standard of judgment, 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.
“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 mindset, 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 organise through all legitimate means to demand that the administration address major failings in his perception of our situation and his response to our demands for our rights to security.”
But almost on cue, the Presidency fired back at the group, describing it in unflattering words.
Buhari’s senior media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the NEF does not have a credible membership, adding that the group had before the 2019 presidential elections expressed its hatred for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The presidency said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who the NEF supported in the election suffered defeat.
Adesina’s statement read: “Prof. Ango Abdullahi, on Sunday, signed a long-winding statement on many issues relating to the North, and purportedly to the country.
In the statement issued by Femi Adesina, the presidency said the NEF does not have a credible membership, adding that the group had before the 2019 presidential elections expressed its hatred for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The presidency said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who the NEF supported in the election suffered defeat.
The statement read: “Prof. Ango Abdullahi, on Sunday, signed a long-winding statement on many issues relating to the North, and purportedly to the country.