The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has told the presidency under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop issuing unnecessary statements but rather settle down and get the job done.
The NEF secretary, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed noted that leadership is much more about taking action rather than talking and releasing statements about every issue.
Baba-Ahmed who spoke on Wednesday in an interview with The Punch in Abuja, spoke against the recent alarm by the federal government that some persons have planned to overthrow the current administration.
The statement released by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the President, Femi Adesina added that the group plans to hold an illegal conference where a vote of no confidence will be passed on President Buhari.
“The Department of State Services, on Sunday, alerted on sinister moves by misguided elements to wreak havoc on the government, sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.
“Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.
“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President, thus throwing the land into further turmoil,” the presidency said.
Reacting to the presidency statement, the NEF secretary noted that the allegations raised in the statement are very serious and warrants the federal government to take action rather than just talk.
Baba-Ahmed noted that if the group planning the coup has been identified, then action should be taken rather than just raise an alarm to Nigerians.
“This is a very serious statement to make. We are talking of treason here. The Presidency has a duty to arrest and expose who it suspects are involved in this, instead of releasing statements that merely compound our very high levels of concern.
“This is not just about President Buhari. It is about our rights to choose who leads us. It is, to say the least, irresponsible to release these kinds of statements instead of taking steps to bring subversives and treason to book,” the NEF secretary submitted.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of ‘handing over’ Nigeria to bandits and terrorists.
The PDP in a statement on Wednesday by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the President has abdicated his responsibilities.
The PDP was making reference to a statement by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed who said kidnapping and banditry were not federal offences, hence it was not the responsibility of the federal government to prosecute suspected kidnappers and bandits.
The PDP said the statement by Mohammed is a confirmation that Buhari and the APC have handed Nigeria over to criminals.