We Are With Buhari – Northern Elders Insist

HYELADI BWALA

Northern Elders, under the aegis of the Kungiyan Datawan Arewa Initiative, KDAI, on Saturday threw their weights behind the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 16 Presidential election.

Speaking at the end of their inaugural meeting in Abuja, General Paul Tarfa (Rtd), Convener of the forum dissociated the elders from an earlier statement in which Northern Elders were reported to have endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Tarfa told journalists that President Buhari has done a lot to merit their endorsement, as such any action contrary to this latest endorsement of the President was not a true reflection of the position of Northern Elders and should be discountenanced.

He said by virtue of the calibre of people in attendance compared to those who earlier claimed to have spoken for the Northern Elders, it was clear who had the mandate of Northern Elders.

While lamenting the lack of cohesion amongst Northern Elders and the elites, General Tarfa said, “the North determines the political direction of Nigeria and any candidate the region supports is bound to carry the day and Buhari is their candidate.

According to the convener of the forum which enjoys the support of most Northern leaders and the elite, those who claimed to have endorsed Atiku were speaking for themselves and not the entire North, stressing that Buhari remains the better of the lot.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has distinguished himself as a statesman per excellence and has done so much for the country in all sectors since coming on board, which is the reason we are supporting him”

Other speakers at the forum who also justified the endorsement of President Buhari by the Northern Elders included Senator Paul Wampana,  Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former governor of Nasarawa State,  Bashir Dalhatu, Pauline Tallen and Ambassador Yadudu.

Part of the resolutions of the group amongst others included sustaining the struggle for equity for the North, regular consultations and defending the interest of the North in the face of competing National struggles.