18th February, 2023
By Deji Abdulwahab
The Northern Elders Forum, NEF said it has so far resisted desperate attempt and cajoling by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP flag bearer to get its endorsement as the as the Northern candidate ahead of the February 25 presidential election.
A members of NEF, Ahaji Seidu Baba, revealed this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday while denying claims that the Forum has adopted Atiku as the Northern consensus candidate for the presidential election.
Baba said the NEF has rebuffed all the scheming by Atiku to be endorsed as the sole candidate of the North.
He dismissed the claims that the NEF’s 10th Anniversary was to adopt Atiku as consensus candidate for the North.
“Atiku has no credentials to be a sole Northern Presidential candidate,” Baba said.
“There was an attempt to cajole and even force the NEF to adopt him (Atiku), shows how desperate he is.
“Many people believe, though the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-rufai, was condemning Northern elders, it is believed, his real target was Atiku Abubakar.
“There is no way Atiku can be a Northern candidate, because he does not know them and we do not know him.”
“It is believed Atiku got wind of his rejection and that was the reason he failed to show up at the NEF Assembly and could not send any representative.
“Atiku has not been seen as somebody who is closed to the North, because he has not been fair to us.
“He is somebody that have his base outside the North.”
(NAN)