The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has distanced itself from the report which endorsed a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, as the North’s consensus presidential candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A committee chaired by NEF leader, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, had in a report said that a former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd), had directed him to conduct a consensus exercise for four northern presidential aspirants – Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; a former bank chief, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; Saraki, and Mohammed.
The committee, which shortlisted Saraki and Governor Mohammed as the two northern presidential consensus candidates, urged Tambuwal and economist, Hayatu-Deen to drop their presidential ambition.
Tambuwal and Hayatu-Deen had rejected the outcome of the report, describing the Abdullahi committee as “faceless”, and dismissing the outcome as “predetermined”.
However, the NEF’s Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Mr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has distanced the forum from the process, noting that Prof Abdullahi, who acted on Babangida’s directive, did not act on NEF’s behalf.
“It has become necessary to address the impression created in part by mischief, and in part by genuine confusion over the role of the convener of Northern Elders Forum, in the effort to create consensus among four aspirants for the presidential ticket of the PDP.
“It is important to make clear that the entire process did not involve the Northern Elders Forum as a group, and is not a product of the group,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He stated that the consensus idea was that of the aspirants themselves.
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The NEF spokesperson noted that the aspirants informed Babangida of their intention and requested “elderly intervention and advice” in the event that their efforts failed to produce consensus.
Bala-Ahmed added that Babangida in turn requested Abdullahi in his individual capacity to design and manage a process that could improve a consensus agreement among the four aspirants.
He said Abdullahi consequently concluded the assignment and released a detailed report and recommendation, signing it in his individual capacity.
He noted that Abdullahi was “free to undertake any lawful activity as a citizen”, adding that “genuine misinterpretations of his role are understandable”.
The NEF spokesman stated: “Northern Elders Forum is not affiliated to any political party or aspirant, and is strongly committed to the creation of a level playing field which will allow the emergence of the best leaders in the 2023 elections.
“It has also remained consistent in its conviction that all parts of the country should play their parts freely, unhindered by restrictions which offend principles of inclusion and fairness.
“The Forum believes the North has excellent candidates whose fate should be left to party delegates and voters to decide.”
Bala-Ahmed equally assured that NEF remained united behind the protection and projection of interests of the North and Nigeria, and would play its role as it has done whenever circumstances demand.
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