Shekarau, LND woo northern groups to 2027 presidential ambition

By : Saxone Akhaine, Kaduna

Date: 22 November 2024 4:48am WAT

Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has said that during the eight years he served as governor of Kano State, he never collected kickback from any contractor

Newly founded League of Northern Democrats (LND) has reached out to other groups in the region, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), and Middle Belt Forum (MBF), to forge a common ground on prevailing hardship and also return of power to the North in 2027.

Chairman of LND, Ibrahim Shekarau, at a parley yesterday with members of ACF, clarified that they have met other northern groups, noting, “it is the beginning of a transformative coalition for Northern Nigeria.”

Shekarau, who spoke through a member, Ibrahim Isa Bio, a former Minister of Transportation, stressed: “The teaming up required commitment, collaboration and a shared vision from all the groups.”

LND’s visit to ACF came 48 hours after the forum faulted the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu’s government, saying they lacked human face.

Shekarau said: “In our effort to rebuild a stronger Northern Nigeria, I am pleased to inform you that we have also held consultative meetings with the leaderships of the Northern Elders Forum and the Middle Belt Forum, and our discussions yielded fruits with agreements in principle to forge a coalition among our four organisations – ACF, LND, NEF and the Middle Belt Forum.

This coalition is not just for today, but for the future, “a future where Northern Nigeria regains its status as a beacon of progress, culture and leadership in Nigeria.”