Northern youths caution Katsina elders over remarks against Tinubu’s govt

A northern group, the  North-West Youths Progressives Forum, has faulted the position of  Katsina Elders Forum asking President Bola Tinubu to reverse his administration’s decisions or risk losing the support of the North in  2027 general election.

The group in a press briefing on Sunday in Sokoto by its coordinator, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu Ka’oje,  said the Katsina elders have no moral justification to challenge any decision taken by the current government, having failed in the past to challenge former President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s decisions.

Ka’oje recalled that despite the wanton destruction of lives, properties and economy of the North, no northern elder from Katsina stood up to speak against those policies taken by the previous government that have adversely affected the North and its people.

“Why was it the level of poverty, insecurity and others experienced under former President Muhammadu  Buhari’s leadership were not challenged by the same Katsina elders’ group?

“Another question is that, when did the Katsina Elders become critics of the Federal Government’s policies? More people lost their lives and properties, farming activities were disrupted,  while all sectors of human activities almost collapsed due to insecurity and poor handling of governance by the past administration yet, the elders forum never challenged the former president to adjust ,” Ka’oje said.

He wondered why the current president who is a Yoruba man from the South-West zone is now the target to receive the heat created by his predecessor.

He also downplayed the political threat issued against the president ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying that a serious minded- person can’t be talking about 2027 when the administration has only spent less than a year of its tenure.

“The Katsina elders ought to have advised  the   president   to convene a national summit on issues that affect security, economic development and political stability of the country,  instead  of  showing their biased thoughts against the government of  Tinubu

“We believe that the Federal Government under President Tinubu, from all indications, is competent and committing a lot of energy and resources to fight against banditry activities within the northern communities through both kinetic and non-kinetic approach

“Therefore, we supported the reactions of the  Minister of State  for  Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle,  asking the Katsina Elders and other pressure groups to work for national cohesion and stop creating political tension through unguided statements against the present administration

“We are commending the laudable efforts of   Matawalle over his genuine commitment and proactive measures toward ensuring the success of fight against insecurity in the North-West  zone, especially going by the proactive measures taken in supporting military air and ground operations in Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states, such measures has now yielded a measurable victory to our armed forces attacking banditry enclaves

“The minister’s action has rekindled a greater hope to the people of North -West  zone  on the Federal Government commitment to the successful fight against banditry; while appreciating  the efforts of the Ministry of Defence, this zeal of  Matawalle has shown his capacity as strategist in fighting these  criminals that are terrorising  the  people in the  zone

“We urged  Tinubu to continue with his good intentions at ensuring the unity and political stability of Nigeria devoid of religious and ethnic differences,” Ka’oje said.