THE Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on the Coalition of Northern Groups to call off its protests and marches and explore additional avenues in conjunction with other groups and individuals.
The NEF, in a statement by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, its Director, Publicity and Advocacy, said it made the call against the backdrop of information at its disposal that there are plans to disrupt the peaceful protests and subvert CNG’s objectives in some parts of the North.
“The goals of these subversives are to create a hostile environment that will worsen the state of insecurity in which our people live, and divert attention from their goal, which is basically to urge government to take firm and immediate steps to arrest the bleeding in the North,” the NEF said, adding that there is “still a long way to go, and many Northerners are concerned that protests and marches do not become the only means of getting our leaders to do what is right.”
It counselled the CNG to explore additional avenues in conjunction with other groups and individuals in order to sustain the momentum and keep the government on its toes.
While encouraging all groups in the North to raise their levels of vigilance and organisation to demand that elected leaders live up to their oath to secure Nigerians, the NEF said it has engaged the CNG in discussions to prevent a 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 under way.
“After the marches, President Buhari dispatched a high-powered delegation 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.
“Yesterday, President Buhari 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 Northern Elders Forum is confident in the maturity of members of the CNG to demonstrate the best traditions of respect for elders for which our Northern communities are famous.
“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 represent a threat to them. We do, however, represent voices that need to be heard in our current circumstance in the North,” said the statement.
