A group, Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development, has vowed to work again the ruling All Progressives Congress in the coming general elections in 2023.
The coalition said the APC-led government under President Muhammadu Buhari had neglected the northern part of the country and left it in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists that had laid siege to it for years.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the CNEPD National Coordinator, Zana Goni, the elders, urged President Buhari to find a quick solution that would revive the region from the dead state it has found itself under Boko Haram insurgency.
CNEPD said, “We confirm that the entire North is still under siege from Boko Haram terrorism, banditry, kidnaping and other forms of criminality. This ugly security situation, we noticed, has been underreported. We are concerned over this poor media coverage.
“The inability of the service chiefs to change the game against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers threatening the continued existence of the region despite the heavy investment made by Federal Government so far to ensure restoration of peace, is no doubt worrisome to us. We believe wholeheartedly too, that this development is a source of great concern to all patriotic Nigerians out there.”
It added, “As we write this to present our plight to the public, there is no school opened to academic activities in the region, except perhaps in Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State. Farmers can’t go to farms anymore, especially in the North East, fueling our concerns of severe famine if the situation is not immediately addressed.
“Also, buying and selling, besides other economic activities, have been brought to a total halt by activities of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers. There is equally no social activities anymore in the region as people preferably stay in their various houses now to avert being prowled on by the adversaries.”
On why they will move against APC in 2023, the group said, “We remind Mr. President that for you to be successful and an accomplished president, your party should succeed you when you take a bow.
“Nigerians should be happy to vote for your party, but your continued refusal to listen to Nigerians on the restructuring of the security architecture is rapidly threatening the chances of APC in 2023. Urgent steps need to be taken to restore public confidence in the party.
“We in the North are the backbone of your party and if nothing is done soonest to address the issue of insecurity in our land, we will have no choice than to begin to mobilise against APC come 2023.”