Senator Kabiru Marafa, an influential member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign in Zamfara State, has challenged statements made by the Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Matawalle, regarding the Northern Elders Forum.
Matawalle had issued a statement titled ‘Tinubu Presidency: Northern Elders Forum, a political burden to the North, they do not speak for the region,’ wherein he referred to the Northern Elders as ‘paperweights and a burden.’
In response, Marafa emphasized that instead of casting aspersions on the Northern elders, Matawalle should have highlighted the achievements, programs, and policies of President Bola Tinubu in the North and the entire nation during the initial 10 months of the administration.
Marafa criticized the characterization of Northern elders, who played a pivotal role in securing the highest number of votes for President Tinubu’s victory. He deemed such labeling counterproductive and disrespectful to the President’s efforts in addressing various national challenges.
Highlighting the need for support, loyalty, and hard work from appointees to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda, Marafa denounced sycophancy and urged the minister to retract his statement and offer an unreserved apology to the Northern elders and the entire Northern populace.
Concerned about potential implications on the President’s electoral prospects in the region, Marafa underscored the importance of respecting elders and maintaining decorum in public discourse.
Asserting his intimate involvement in APC politics and close association with President Tinubu, Marafa clarified that Matawalle’s views were personal and did not reflect those of the President or the Presidency.
Marafa concluded by reaffirming his belief that the North, its people, and its elders are integral to the nation’s fabric and emphasized the President’s alignment with this sentiment.