Ahead of the 2023 Presidential election, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had said that the North will not support a candidate who seeks to benefit from strategies that exploit the ethnic and religious diversity of the region.
Speaking at a book launch in Kaduna, Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, disclosed the qualities expected of a candidate the North will support come 2023
He said “the North will participate in all political and electoral activities as equals and concerning other Nigerians who respect us. The North wants leaders who will lead with integrity, competence, compassion, and the fear of God.”
“We will not support a candidate that fails to convince that he will radically improve the quality of governance and the integrity of leaders. Second, Northerners will not be intimidated into making choices that do not improve the chances of real changes in their current circumstances.”
“We will participate in all political and electoral activities as equals, and concerning other Nigerians who respect us. In the north, we consider attempts to create divisions and conflicts around religion as hostile acts.”
“We have paid a high price in conflicts around religion in the North, and we do not need to do more. Our insecurity and collapsing economy do not discriminate between Christians and Muslims.”
