The Presidency has again slammed the Northern Elders Forum, insisting that the right to elect leaders is rested on Nigerians and not on “self-appointed and unelected group”.
The latest knock is contained in a statement titled: “Northern Elders Forum” Asking A Section Of The Country To Leave The Federation” and signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The statement is a reply to the vocal Northern body recent outburst, reeling out terms and conditions for the country to remain as an entity.
“We wish to reassure Nigerians that it remains their democratically elected leadership which takes the decisions that steer our nation – and no one else.
“No self-appointed and unelected group can take this right from Nigerians – no matter how much coverage they might enjoy in the media. Nigerians listen to elected leaders, not opinionated tin-gods who have no traction with any responsible group.
“It is a delusional arrogance that would lead such a group to publicly state terms and conditions for the existence of our nation” the statement challenged.
The presidency asked: “Who gave them the right to ask for the exclusion, or expulsion of any one, group or section of the country from the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
The Nigerian government, Shehu dismissed did not take guidance nor invitations from such groups – only from the Nigerian people who put governments in office.
“Any group can refer to themselves as “leaders”, but in Nigeria, if you have not been elected by Nigerians to a leadership role, then you are not – and the government certainly doesn’t recognize you as such.
“Like many other countries around the world, Nigeria is feeling the strain of the current period of volatility and uncertainty. Now is not the time to seek to exacerbate divisions amongst Nigerians. Rather, we call on all Nigerians to come together and work to overcome the challenges we face as one nation, one people” the presidency stressed.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
