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The Northern Elders Discussion board has given the reason why it has not endorsed any of the 18 presidential candidates collaborating in subsequent month’s election in Nigeria.
The presidential election can be held on 25 February.
Peter Obi (Labour Get together), Bola Tinubu (All Progressives Congress) , Atiku Abubakar (Peoples Democratic Get together) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (New Nigeria Peoples Get together) are the 4 main candidates for the election.
The spokesperson of the Northern Elders Discussion board, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, mentioned the group wouldn’t rush to endorse any presidential candidate regardless of having a couple of weeks to the election.
He mentioned this whereas that includes on a reside tv programme, Focus Nigeria, aired on the African Unbiased Tv and monitored by PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr Baba-Ahmed recalled how the group supported Muhammadu Buhari to win the 2015 election and later labored in opposition to his reelection in 2019 as a result of they had been apparently dissatisfied with Mr Buhari’s efficiency.
The Northern Elders Discussion board was unable to persuade different Nigerians to not assist Mr Buhari in 2019, Mr Baba-Ahmed mentioned.
“This time we’re taking precautions – we’re saying watch out, don’t rush into judgment. We nonetheless have about six weeks to take a choice. We’re doing plenty of good issues by way of following round and assessing what they (candidates) are doing, what they’re saying, not simply on the presidential stage however governors and Nationwide Meeting.
“We imagine governance is not only about one particular person and that’s the reason we have now not rushed to say that is our candidate as a result of one particular person can not change this nation,” he mentioned.
Mr Baba-Ahmed, a former secretary to the Kaduna State Authorities, mentioned the group would endorse a candidate earlier than the election as they can not afford to go away the north “hanging.”
He mentioned Nigerians don’t want an ethnic president or one voted on the premise of religion however a “brave president” that can take choices which is probably not in style among the many individuals.
“Do you negotiate with Boko Haram, do you negotiate with bandits, do you have to simply proceed to struggle them and they’ll struggle you? What do you do with individuals like Nnamdi Kanu, do you have to communicate with him, do you have to negotiate, is there foundation for negotiating?
READ ALSO: Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed: Clinging to energy in 2023 will break Nigeria up, By ‘Tope Oriola
“We should have a president who will climate the storm, face issues and cope with them. We’d like the president who will insist that questions have to be raised and solutions have to be discovered for them. We’d like a president who understands the place sources ought to go and shouldn’t go,” he mentioned.
On the considerations raised by some Nigerians in regards to the digital transmission of outcomes, Mr Baba-Ahmed mentioned the discussion board was proud of the progress made by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral course of.
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