With less than three weeks to the February 25 presidential election, the Northern Elders Council (NEC) has warned against the activities of ‘cabals’ in the presidency whose intentions are to use their closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari to generate chaos and derail the electoral process for their selfish gains.
The northern elders, therefore, urged the Buhari-led government to handle situations leading to the general elections with caution to guarantee a rancour-free and transparent exercise.
Consequently, the northern elders warned the Buhari-led administration to be wary of such elements, who are allegedly in the corridors of power.
The pan-Northern ethnic group led by a 98-year-old elder statesman, Mallam Tanko Yakasai, said this in the statement titled “Reflections of a 98-Year-Old Patriot: A message to those planning to rig the elections, which was made available to ThisNigeria yesterday.
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The group advised Nigerians to be careful in the choices they make in order not to fall for the traps of groups and political parties running ethnic agendas as well as those parading candidates with the blemishes of corruption on their identity.
It said it has taken stock of developments around the nation’s political space and would be joining forces with progressive elements to ensure Nigerians do not get it wrong at the coming polls.
The statement disclosed that the group would be making more policy statements on the state of the nation in the coming days, after its next congress.
It read in part: “NEC, at all times, will not shy away from its commitment to peace, unity, and stability of Nigeria. NEC’s power is invested in elected people who hold it in trust for the electorate.
“People who, out of consanguinity ties, friendship loyalties, or privileged proximity to elected public officials, abuse power, must be rejected and prevented from subverting the popular will of people’s choices during elections.
“Corruption is not only about monetary and unfettered access to the state treasury. It also includes peddling in influence by a handful of non-state actors in the corridors of power, seeking to foster chaos to derail democratic transitions, as enshrined in the constitution. We must resolutely reject that in this country.”
Speaking on the plot by some undemocratic elements to manipulate the results of the forthcoming presidential election with its attendant consequences.
Yakasai explained that his fear was rooted in the fact that “when people are consumed by their inordinate desires, they become blind to the bigger picture.”
“My concern is not for myself, but for Nigeria and its people. I believe that for Nigeria to properly care for its teeming God-given population everyone in the country must live in peace and harmony”.
Yakasai said, “Those who prioritise winning the upcoming elections at all cost may not understand my concern for the survival of Nigeria and its people, which only stems from my patriotism”
He lamented that “Unfortunately, there are unpatriotic individuals who are solely focused on their own selfish and narrow interests and do not care about the future of the country and its people. “
Yakasai’s strong-worded statement reads in parts: “I have been pondering on what motivates those who plan to rig or scuttle the upcoming elections in Nigeria and particularly the presidential election. Do they believe they can do so without consequences?”
Meanwhile, the NEC has commended Buhari for boldly professing his support for his party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, during the APC presidential campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State on Saturday, describing the outing as a masterstroke that will send the right signal, not just to the faithful of the ruling party, but to all Nigerians, allowing all to see that there are no cracks within the ruling party.
