We are not part of Eminent Elders Forum, we did not sign their communiqué, say Shagari, Sani

Two eminent Nigerians,  Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari and Dr. Baraka Sani, have dissociated themselves from a meeting by a group, the Eminent Elders Forum, on the various problems confronting Nigeria, saying they were not part of the meeting neither did they sign the communiqué as portrayed by the group.

The group on Friday had issued a statement after their meeting where they discussed various issues confronting the country and came out with a 19-point resolutions on how the country can move forward.

In the communiqué, those who were said to have attended the meeting were former governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who is the Co-Chair, EEF Steering Committee; former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, Alternate Chairman, EFF Steering Committee; Dr Akin Fapohunda, Secretary, EFF Steering Committee; Professor Chukwuemeka Eze Onukaogu, Chairman, EFF Communiques/Resolutions Committee.

Others were Hajia Dr Baraka Sani, Co-Chair, EEF Communiques/Resolutions Committee; Elder Muyiwa Ayo-Vaughan, Secretary, Communiques/Resolutions Committee; Elder Smolette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu, Chairman, EFF Media and Publicity Committee; Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed, Co-Chair, Media and Publicity Committee; Honourable Bright Omokhodion, Alternate Chairman, EFF Media and Publicity Committee; Honourable John Nwokocha, Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee and Professor Echefuna’ R. G. Onyebeadi, Convener/Coordinator, Eminent Elders Forum.

However, on Monday, both Alhaji Shagari, former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and Dr Baraka Sani, who was described as co-chair, EEF Communiqués/Resolutions Committee, said they were not part of the meeting and were not among those who signed the communiqué.

According to Alhaji Shagari: “Please note that I, Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, did not take part in the discussion and I am not a signatory to the communiqué.  Like other Nigerians, I saw it on social media only.

“I was once part of the group, but I left a long time ago because I was not comfortable with the way the group was going. I therefore completely disassociate myself from the communiqué and I have asked for an apology from the group for using my name without my consent. I am really embarrassed and disappointed.

Also in a joint statement by both Alhaji Shagari and Dr Baraka Sani, they vehemently denied ever attending the meeting.

According to them: “Our attention has been drawn to a communiqué issued by  a group called Eminent Elders Forum in relation to the security issues  in the country.

“We want to make it categorically clear that we did not participate in the discussion ,we are not signatories to the communiqué and we totally dissociate ourselves from the irresponsible and unpatriotic communiqué issued by group.

“We are seriously embarrassed and we are asking for unreserved apology from the group failing which we shall take necessary action to clear our good names.”