Northern Elders Forum accuses President Tinubu of impoverishing northern Nigeria

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has accused President Bola Tinubu of impoverishing northern Nigeria with his policies.

The spokesperson of NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, made the comment in reaction to the relocation of key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos by the federal government.

NEF had rejected the move by the Federal Government, saying that it has negative implications for Abuja’s status as the capital city and financial consequences for the CBN and the nation.

Spokesperson of NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, told Saturday Sun: “We are not a forum that whitewashes or smears any administration, including that of Tinubu.

“We have established a standard of judgment that we will not compromise, which is characterized by being respectful and responsible in our relationships with leaders at all levels and speaking truth to power.

“We will not lower the bar when it comes to the interests of the North, the unity and security of Nigeria, or the welfare of all citizens.

“It is our duty to remind President Tinubu that his policies, many of which appear to further impoverish the North while enriching other parts of the country, have resulted in hunger stalking millions of homes.

“Inflation is making life increasingly difficult, people are losing their jobs, businesses are closing down, and infrastructure is decaying.”

Suleiman said that the president must recognize that his policies have had detrimental effects on the North and hoped that he would take the necessary steps to rectify these issues and work towards a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.

He warned that if Tinubu does not move beyond sectional considerations, the North will, in 2027, cast their votes against him, bearing in mind the warped federal appointments, slanted resource allocation, and detrimental policies that have occurred during his tenure.