The presidency went after the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Tuesday, calling the organization deluded and arrogant.
According to the administration, NEF has no authority to speak on behalf of Nigerians simply because it has access to the media, according to Mallam Garba Shehu, the senior special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity.
It advised NEF to refrain from making provocative remarks that might inflame tensions in the country, as well as stepping down as Nigerians’ self-appointed spokesperson.
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Rather than encouraging demands for some parts of the country to secede, the presidency urged Nigerians to support and strive toward unity in a statement.
The full statement reads: “We are aware of the latest statement from the so-called “Northern Elders Forum”.
“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.
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“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?
“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 recognise 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.”
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Anaedoonline.ng recalls NEF had previously told the federal government to allow the southeasterners who are demanding a break up from Nigeria to leave the country since it seems the leaders are also in support of the move.
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