Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said the region will continue to maintain its hold on the country’s political leadership, saying it’s population placed it in such a vantage position.
It said those who feel the region can be intimidated into accepting second class position during the 2023 elections are deluding themselves.
It’s spokesperson, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, made the body’s stand known at the maiden Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series organized by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
He said, “We will lead Nigeria the way we have led Nigeria before, whether we are President or Vice President, we will lead Nigeria.
“We have the majority of the votes and the democracy says vote whom you want. Why should we accept second class position when we know we can buy form and contest for first class and we will win?
“Why does anybody need to threaten us and intimidate us? We will get that power, but be humble because power comes from God. We inherited leadership, being honest is not being stupid.
“There are Nigerians who believed that because the economy of the North is being crumbled; we are running away from insecurity, we are politically vulnerable, they think they can buy us for 2023 they are making a mistake.
“We are ready for this, we will consider every economic adversity, challenge, we will fix the Northern economy and we are the only one who can fix this Northern economy. For that reason, we are not for sale. We are in the process of rebuilding the North and we will rebuild the North from 2023.”
He said if the North wanted to support a southerner it will be it’s discretion to do so based on mutual interest not through intimidation.
“The North is not for sale and northerners will surprise those waiting for them to queue up in 2023 and be given money in exchange for their votes,” he added.
