Northern Elders Warn Against Plot To Stop 2023 Elections

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) yesterday said it had reviewed the difficult conditions under which northerners and fellow Nigerians live, as well as concerns over the security of this year’s elections.

In a statement by its director of publicity and advocacy Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday, the forum noted  that there were unhealthy murmurs which hint at the possibility that the elections may not hold, and some kind of  unconstitutional contraption may be forced on Nigerians after May this year.

He said those who peddle those rumors point to the near-desperate circumstances under which Nigerians live. 

“They suggest that difficulties simultaneously imposed by insecurity, crushing inflation, fuel scarcity, exchange of old for new currency notes and others which affect particularly poor Nigerians are deliberately contrived to inflame passions and trigger unrest which may poison the election environment or threaten its conduct,” he said.

 He added however that the forum had no basis to support those conjectures, but warned against any attempt to interfere with the conduct of credible elections and a peaceful transition to a new administration. 

He said the severe  economic and social difficulties under which Nigerians live were indeed threats to peace and security and that solution must be found to improve security.

The statement reads in part, “ Fuel shortage can and must be eliminated immediately. The currency swap programme has not worked as planned, and it is strangulating economies, communities and the patience of the citizen. It should be revisited, particularly around its timelines and operations of the CBN and banks. 

“Whatever its benefits, it cannot be of value if it destroys many aspects of the economy, or alienates already hard-pressed citizens further. The Forum advises a postponement of its deadlines and a major review of the utility  of the continued stay of the leadership of the CBN in place. The forum warns that Nigerians will not accept to live under any arrangement that offends the constitution.”