Treat all Nigerians equally or lose our support, NEF tells Buhari

From left: Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; All Progressives Congress Chieftain, Bola Tinubu; President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode,.

Northern Elders’ Forum, has asked President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to serve all Nigerians equally as he mounts the saddle of the nation’s leadership and be ready for its criticism. The Secretary General of the NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, said in an exclusive interview that although the forum was elated with Buhari’s victory  in the last election, they were also insisting that the president-elect should stand up for the rights of all Nigerians.

Describing the choice of Buhari as the emergence of a true Nigerian president, Abdullahi, a pro-rotation advocate, pointed out that the forum was certain the new leader would turn Nigeria around and give the citizenry a new lease of life.

“As far as NEF is concerned, the right thing has just been done in Nigeria and we are happy the right president to lead Nigeria to its glory has finally emerged, Abdullahi said.

“As you know, Buhari is an honest man, with a high degree of integrity who knows what to do for this country from day one and we have no doubt whatsoever that he is going to make an impressive outing as a president.

“But let me also say that if he fails to serve all Nigerians and pursue sectional, tribal or group interests like Jonathan did, we will not hesitate to criticise him as we did to the current president,” the NEF chieftain said.

Asked to advise Buhari on what to do in order to move the nation forward, Abdullahi asked Buhari to start by tackling raging insecurity in the country and stamp out corruption with immediate effect.

The NEF official said without tacking the two monsters, it would be difficult to salvage the sagging economy and create jobs for unemployed Nigerians who voted for Buhari and his administration.

The former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University said that Buhari should resist the temptation of selecting his team from those who campaigned with him but to source for credible and experienced Nigerians from all parts of the world to form his cabinet so as to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

He also said that in sending the names of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly for confirmation, Buhari should attach the portfolios of such men and women to enable the lawmakers ascertain the capability of the appointees in the interest of Nigeria.

“Above all , Buhari must take steps to end the era of impunity by all agencies of government in Nigeria so as to truly show himself as a true democratic leader and give Nigerians a cause to celebrate his coming into power,” the NEF chieftain said.