Southern, Middle Belt Group Slams NEF on 2023 presidency, says statement reckless, careless

The Southern and Middle Belt Alliance (SaMBA) has condemned a statement credited to the Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed in which he boasted Northern Nigeria’s voter population superiority.

He said that the north would deploy its majority votes to retain the presidency in 2023 and lead the country in perpetuity.

SaMBA in a statement issued on Monday and signed by its spokesperson, Prince Rwang Pam Jnr. described the statement made on behalf of Northern Elders Forum as reckless, careless and insensitive.

The group wondered how the Northern Elders Forum with the calibre of educated people among them could resort to boasting that the North had the population to do anything they wanted with power.

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SaMBA further stated that many liberal-minded elites in the North were sad as the statement credited to the NEF was capable of further deepening the division in the country.

The group’s statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the statement credited to Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed that the North is not ready to relinquish power in 2023, claiming that the region had a majority of votes and democracy says vote whom you want’.”

The group said: “Let Dr Baba-Ahmed be reminded that without the Middle Belt, such numbers boasted about in the North is mere political posturing.

“It is disheartening that Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed will make such reckless and careless statement at a time when we are still battling to keep the country united.

“One would have expected that the retired Permanent Secretary with his exposure and academic prowess will choose his words carefully, but it is quite unfortunate that NEF will talk recklessly.

“It is certain that some liberal minded people in the North will be shedding secret tears as a result of the statement credited to the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), because it is based on a delusion of a ‘one north’ that has treated the middle belt region as second class citizens.

“The so-called ‘north’ cannot boast of numerical strength to win election without reckoning with the strength of the middle belt and other northern Christians that have decided to work with their southern Nigeria counterparts to produce fresh and effective leaders for the country.

“Rather than boasting of numerical strength to win election, NEF should look for ways to turn the numerical strength to productivity. Nigeria is presently rated as the poverty headquarters of the world because of poor standards of living in the region under the present leadership.

“We therefore urge liberal minded Northerners to work with the Southern and Middle Belt Alliance (SaMBA) to produce a new crop of leaders in 2023 with the requisite competence, character and courage to usher Nigeria into the 21st century.”