NEF Official Accuses State Governors of Lobbying for Personal Gain in Support of Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Bid

The National Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, accused state governors who lobbied for Bola Tinubu’s presidency in Nigeria of doing so for private achieve.

He made this assertion throughout a one-day colloquium organized by the Democratic Watch Initiative in Kaduna.

Dr Baba-Ahmed expressed his concern over the habits of politicians through the current basic elections.

He revealed that the NEF had interacted with many politicians and located that almost all of them had been solely centered on their private pursuits reasonably than the wants of the citizens.

He highlighted the problem of residents being bribed to vote towards their conscience, resulting in voting patterns based mostly on tribal and spiritual affiliations.

The NEF official additional disclosed that some governors who approached President Muhammadu Buhari to foyer for Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency did so with their private ambitions in thoughts.

Their purpose was to not prioritize the pursuits of the northern area however reasonably to safe ministerial positions for themselves.

Dr Baba-Ahmed famous that these governors had already begun positioning themselves for appointments in the brand new authorities.

Raising doubts concerning the integrity of the election outcomes, Dr Baba-Ahmed questioned whether or not folks voted based mostly on inducements, corresponding to receiving rice, cash, or different meals objects.

He additionally questioned whether or not voters had been adequately educated to decide on essentially the most certified candidate who would work for the widespread good.

Additionally, he highlighted the significance of contemplating candidates’ understanding of the precise area, whether or not northern or southern.

Addressing the controversies surrounding key positions in the tenth National Assembly, the NEF emphasised that people and teams lobbying for positions on behalf of northern legislators ought to permit the elected representatives to determine amongst themselves who will assume management roles.

The convener of the occasion, Nasir Danbatta, defined that the aim of the one-day program was to ascertain an agenda for the incoming authorities.

The purpose was to advertise fairness, equity, and justice in coping with Nigerians for the general growth of the nation.