The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has accused the federal government of allowing private citizens “known for supporting violence against other ethnic groups” to participate actively in affairs of national interest.
In a statement on Friday, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spokesperson of the group, condemned the decision of the federal government to include individuals, “who are supporting threats” to the security of northerners in the south-west, in the peace deal to lift food blockade to the south.
In a meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, Yahaya Bello, Kogi state governor, had helped facilitate an agreement to end the protest by northern traders who had blocked food supply to the southern part of the country.
At the Thursday assembly, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, turned into additionally in attendance.
The blockade by means of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) had ended in shortage and an boom in the costs of food gadgets in the south — at the same time as a supply glut crashed charges in the north.
Speaking on the latest peace deal, the northern elders rejected the involvement of such private residents, and stated the federal government have to have taken better price of the situation.
“The Forum welcomes the choice of the Federal Government to deal with a chief and extended complaint of transporters over more than one taxation and extortion on federal highways along the us of a’s eastern corridor, all the manner from Borno, via Adamawa, the states in the south-east, and the south-south,” Baba-Ahmed stated.
“The Forum is disturbed by way of the visible involvement of a non-public citizen, recognized as assisting threats to the security of northern groups within the south-west, within the discussions preceding the resolution of the strike, and the mention of some of people, who had been instrumental in growing extreme hostility around northerners dwelling within the south-west.
“Indeed, a number of the persons referred to as having been contacted to offer assurances to northern buyers, herders and transporters, have been fingered by means of the police as being worried in criminal sports towards northerners inside the south-west.
“The Forum rejects the concept that federal authorities or its sellers could encourage the outsourcing of its obligation and duty to guard citizens to individuals, who're neck-deep in encouraging violence and corruption of communal co-lifestyles.
“The Forum could instead consider that the involvement of these people turned into contrived to render its purported intervention valueless. In any case, the involvement of personal citizens, who represent existential threats to residents, in an workout designed to give them assurances that they will be safe, is abhorrent and unacceptable.
“The Forum recognises the pivotal function of governors within the south-west as well as other respected leaders of groups operating with the federal authorities to enhance the experience of safety of all communities.”
Although Baba-Ahmed did not point out any name, Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, who changed into additionally on the peace meeting, had earlier criticised the blockade and stated there could be reciprocation from the south.
In a publish on his Facebook web page on February 27, the former minister had stated the south will even block the deliver of oil to the north.
“If the north blocks food supplies to the south, the south will block the supply of oil, refined products and oil cash to the north. You contact me, I contact you! You do me, I do you! You Tarka me, I Daboh you! It’s referred to as the regulation of reciprocity! Never begin a dance you can’t end!” Fani-Kayode wrote.
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