The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) thinks that some people are working to undermine the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari using the opportunity of his ill health.
The group said on Thursday that it would resist any move to undermine the administration.
NEF said that it would be ready to back any “genuine” restructuring of the nation.
The north was never at any time opposed to the move, the group asserted, which is contrary to the fact as the North had blocked all previous attempts at pushing through restructuring agenda during past constitutional conferences held in the past.
The warning may have been informed by some developments at the seat of power, Aso Rock, which the group described as “attempts to exploit the absence of the president to achieve dubious political goals.” One of these goals is suspected to be the restructuring of the polity.
NEF maintained that the ship of state must keep sailing uninterruptedly until Buhari returns.Rising from its emergency meeting held at the Government House, Kano, the elders noted: “We are aware that attempts are being made to exploit the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve dubious political goals.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, the forum’s deputy leader, Wantaregh Paul Unongo, applauded the president for transferring power to his lieutenant in line with the dictates of the 1999 constitution (as amended). He urged Nigerians to keep praying for the quick recovery of the nation’s first citizen.
He pledged the forum’s support for Osinbajo’s acting presidency, advising him to be wary of enemies in the discharge of his duties.
”The forum expresses its full support and encouragement for Acting President Osinbajo and urges him to exercise responsibility, as he did in the past with commitment, sensitivity and respect for the constitution. We urge him to ignore mischief makers who seek to pit him against the president or the people whose mandate they both exercise.”
NEF charged the National Assembly to work with Osinbajo. Lauding government on the release of the 82 Chibok girls, the forum, however, maintained that the administration must not rest on its oars until the rest of the captives regain freedom.
“For the record, the forum wishes to state that the north welcomes honest and sincere discussion on all aspects of our existence and remains available to engage any group to discus and advance the nature of our union. We will resist the attempt to create the false impression that the region is hostile to enquiries into the basics of the nation’s structure and operations.
“We will also join other Nigerians in resisting any attempt to seek sectional and parochial goals outside the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The forum expects that the task of governing the nation will continue uninterrupted until the return of President Muhammadu Buhari. We, therefore, appeal to Nigerians to be cooperative, focused and committed.”
But elder statesman, Malam Tanko Yakassai reiterated his opposition to calls for the restructuring of Nigeria.Speaking to The Guardian, he urged those behind such an agitation to channel their energies towards ensuring good governance in the polity.
He particularly accused Nigerians of south west extraction of masterminding the agitation with the ultimate desire to ensure the breakup of the country.
Yakassai who was a stalwart of the defunct Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) and national party of Nigeria (NPN) recalled that key leaders of the south west had never hidden their disdain for the northern part of Nigeria right from their days in the defunct Action Group (AG) in the 60s.
