Arewa Elders Caution Obi, Datti-Ahmed Against Provocative Utterances

Concerned Arewa Elders at a convention organised by the Gamji heritage has said that the events unfolding within the Nigerian political landscape calls for concern, stressing that any attempt by anybody, group of people or organisation to truncate the democracy under any guise will be resisted.

This is just as the elders warned political actors, particularly the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and his running mate Senator Datti Ahmed to desist from utterances capable of triggering a repeat of 1966 coup that led to killings of regional leaders.

The Arewa elders noted that it was on record that Obi allegedly engaged in a divisive ethno-religious campaign during the 2023 elections.

The convention was attended by Gamji Heritage, Jamiyyar Matan Arewa (JMA)A Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), South West Arewa Community (SWACOM), Senator Mohammed Sani Saleh, Barrister Ibrahim Bello, Hon Aminu Shagalia, Alhaji Suleiman Jere and Arc Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi.

Others are Hon. Jalo Kollere, Hajiya Rabi Musa Saulawa, Malam Hamza Musa, Ahmed Mohammed Zagi, Hajiya Aishatu Yunusa, Ahmed Usman, Hajiya Aishatu Usman, Hon Muhammad Abubakar Mamadi, Hajiya Aishatu Yahaya Gusau among several others.

The elders made their position known shortly after their convention at Arewa House in a communique issued and read by its chairman, Suleiman Usman Jere in which they further expressed worries that the LP presidential candidate has continued to display anti-democratic tendencies, capable of causing civil disobedience and threats.

The elders therefore advised whoever was aggrieved following the outcome of the elections, to seek redress through the courts rather than inciting chaos.

“We have x-rayed the situation and we condemn in loud, clear and unambiguous tone, the resort to illegal and unconstitutional ways being pursued by Mr. Peter Obi, Mr. Datti Ahmed and other Labour Party leaders which are capable of truncating our democracy. Unhealthy ethno-religious comments amount to incitement that can lead to public disorder.  We recognize the right of anyone aggrieved with the results to challenge the same in courts.

“The events unfolding in our polity within the Nigerian political landscape calls for concern. We called this Elders Convention to discuss and x-ray certain unhealthy developments, especially after the 2023 general elections,” they said.