Core Northern professional forum (CNPF) has upbraided Senator Kabiru Marafa over his scathing attacks on the defence minister, Mr Bello Matawalle for standing solidly behind the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.
CNPF president general, Malam Mikailu Kabiru Arabi, in a statement, insisted that the tantrum by the Marafa backed NEF was not a true reflection of the position of the generality of the people of the north irrespective of their religious and ethnic leanings.
The group remarked that the recent outburst by the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, against the NEF was a step in the right direction.
The group noted that Marafa’s conduct fell short of what is expected of a northern elder that should be in support of Tinubu’s effort in tackling the challenges of insecurity, education, agriculture and unemployment in the polity.
The group reiterated its resolve to support Tinubu if he wants to seek a second term in office in the 2027 poll.
The group noted: “The Minister’s remarks were never challenged which further demonstrated endorsement from us until one of them in the person of former senator Kabiru Marafa who lost in securing any political appointment and is not happy that back in his home state of Zamfara, he is fast losing political relevance that he wants to as usual use the NEF platform against the Minister.
“These elders should know that we have come of age and are wiser over their conness that they can no longer be dragging or pushing us the way they want.
“After all, the NEF is a voluntary association crowded by persons who use the same notes for their own personal benefits without regard to other elders in the region who might even bring better ideas, yet we tolerated them all the while.
“We wish to encourage the Minister to be steadfast in running his office especially in the fight against insecurity, if anyone wants progress to the north, let them join hands with the government by giving useful workable solution to our predicament so that we will know we have elders who did not depart from what and how our founding fathers wished the north, the northerners and the early beneficiaries now turned elders to be.”
The group said the nation has advanced, adding that it will be a serious waste of time and setback for Matawalle as minister to join issues with Marafa at a time he needs to concentrate on meeting the yearnings of Nigerians in providing security, especially in the fight against armed banditry and kidnapping which have been on the front burner of the Tinubu led administration.
“Matawalle’s exceptional experience in the fight against criminal elements and their activities is strongly helping the Tinubu government and as Nigerians, we will continue to support the administration until peace is achieved,” it added.
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