The Presidency says the Northern Elders Forum is suffering from “delusional arrogance” following the group’s call for some section of the country to secede.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Tuesday, stressed the that only democratically elected leadership can take decisions that steer the nation, and no one else.
The statement titled ‘Statement on the call by “northern elders forum” asking a section of the country to leave the federation,’ partly read, “We are aware of the latest statement from the so-called ‘Northern Elders Forum’.
“We wish to reassure Nigerians that it remains their democratically elected leadership which takes the decisions that steer our nation–and no one else.
“No self-appointed and unelected group can take this right from Nigerians – no matter how much coverage they might enjoy in the media. Nigerians listen to elected leaders, not opinionated tin-gods who have no traction with any responsible group.
“It is a delusional arrogance that would lead such a group to publicly state terms and conditions for the existence of our nation.
“Who gave them the right to ask for the exclusion, or expulsion of any one, group or section of the country from the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
The Presidency said the Federal Government is under any obligation to be guided by such group of persons.
The statement added that while any group can arrogate the label “leaders” to itself, the government will not recognize them as such if they had “not been elected by Nigerians to a leadership role.”
The Presidency further noted that like many other countries across the globe, Nigeria is affected by the strain of the current period of volatility and uncertainty.
“Now is not the time to seek to exacerbate divisions amongst Nigerians. Rather, we call on all Nigerians to come together and work to overcome the challenges we face as one nation, one people,” it added.
