Northern Elders Forum says the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government lacks respect for inclusiveness.
The forum’s comment came after Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah condemned Buhari’s government.
The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese was quoted to have carpeted Buhari’s government in his Christmas message.
According to his message, “This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness. The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country?
“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second class status. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.
“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it. There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war.
“The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions. He may be right and we Christians cannot feel sorry that we have no pool of violence to draw from or threaten our country. However, God does not sleep. We can see from the inexplicable dilemma of his North.”
The forum, which agreed that Buhari’s government had failed Nigerians, however, advised that searching solutions outside democratic parlance was not good enough.
NEF’s Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, while speaking on the development, said Nigeria is paying a heavy price for mediocrity and ineffectiveness in key areas of decision-making under President Buhari.
He added that despite that, NEF would not support any other form of government other than one that emerges democratically, adding that Nigerians should, instead, seek judicial redress.Baba-Ahmed said, “The Northern Elders Forum will not encourage even contemplation of any other form of government other than one that emerges democratically.
“There are many grounds to question the competence and sensitivity of President Buhari’s administration. Even his most ardent supporters, if he has any, that is, will wish he has shown greater respect for inclusion and accountability of those he chooses to trust with power.
“The nation is paying a heavy price for mediocrity and ineffectiveness in key areas of decision-making under President Buhari.
“There is however a judicial recourse for abuse of constitutional provisions for a federal character in all matters of governance. Nigerians who feel there are sufficient grounds to challenge the administration should take advantage of that provision.
“The Forum believes that it is irresponsible to search for solutions to President Buhari’s poor governance outside the democratic process.”