Northern elders not burdens, paperweights, Marafa counters Matawalle

Northern group accuses Baba Ahmed of undermining Tinubu’s government

The Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign in Zamfara State and APC chieftain, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has countered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, stating that Northern elders are neither a burden nor paperweights.

The minister had, in a statement titled, ‘Tinubu Presidency: Northern Elders Forum, a political burden to the North, they do not speak for the region,’ described the Northern elders as ‘paperweights and a burden.’

In a statement in Gusau on Sunday, Marafa said rather than negatively portraying the Northern elders, Matawalle should have listed the achievements, programmes, and policies of President Bola Tinubu in the North and the country as a whole in the first 10 months of the administration.

He said calling the elders of the region, which has and gave the highest number of votes to ensure victory for the Tinubu presidency, was counterproductive and a great disservice to the president, who is working tirelessly towards addressing the numerous challenges facing all segments and sectors of the country, among them terrorism, insurgency, economic and financial malfeasance, and infrastructural decay, to list a few.

Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central Senatorial zone (2011–2019), called on the minister to withdraw the offensive statement and tender, without delay, an unreserved apology to the Northern elders and Northerners in general.

MEANWHILE, the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF), on Sunday, made bold accusations against Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, claiming that he has been operating as a mole within the office of the Vice President with the intention of undermining the government of President Tinubu.

In a statement issued by the NSCF spokesperson, Daniel Yakubu, it was alleged that Ahmed has a history of working for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in opposition to the ideals of Tinubu.

The group challenged Ahmed to openly voice his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prove his loyalty to the governing party.

The NSCF further described Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed as an ungrateful, disloyal, and unreliable team player, casting doubt on his integrity within the government he serves. The group called upon Dr. Baba Ahmed to take action to demonstrate his commitment to the APC and clarify his position within the political landscape.

The NSCF demands an immediate investigation into Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed’s activities within the Vice President’s office to ascertain if he is indeed working against the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.