‘Political paperweight seeking relevance’ – Matawalle attacks Northern elders

Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle on Saturday described the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, as a political paperweight seeking relevance.

Matawalle made the remark while criticising NEF for saying the North regrets voting for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement he signed, Matawalle said: “My attention has been drawn to the threats issued by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is ‘reprehensible and naive.’

“The so-called NEF is more or less a political paperweight trying to embark on a destructive journey that will bring the North to disrepute for the group’s personal and selfish gains.

“In addition, this NEF is more of a political burden to Northerners. They cannot offer any positive idea or thought about the future of Northern Nigeria or, indeed, of Nigeria and its unity and togetherness.

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“We all know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the February 2023 presidential election convincingly. So, who is the NEF to want to undermine the President’s victory and even threaten to unseat him?”

Matawalle insisted that the North is proud of supporting and voting for Tinubu and will “continue to be proud of her relationship with the President given the enormous change and development his government has brought to the region.”