Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, the Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign in Zamfara State and a prominent APC member, has refuted claims that Northern elders are burdens or insignificant.
This statement was made in response to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, who described the Northern Elders Forum as a political liability to the North.
Matawalle, in a statement titled, “Tinubu Presidency: Northern Elders Forum, a Political Burden to the North,” dismissed the forum as not representing the region and referred to the Northern Elders as ‘insignificant and a burden.’
In contrast, Marafa, in a Sunday statement in Gusau, argued that instead of denigrating the Northern elders, Matawalle should have highlighted the accomplishments, initiatives, policies, and projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the North and across the nation during the first 10 months of his administration.
Marafa contended that disparaging the elders of the region, who contributed the majority of votes to secure the Tinubu presidency, was counterproductive and a disservice to the president. He emphasized that what President Tinubu requires from his appointees is support, loyalty, and diligence to actualize the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at steering the country back to the path of progress and prosperity, rather than sycophancy and reckless statements.
Marafa expressed concern over the potential impact of the minister’s statement on the president’s electoral prospects in the region, as it could be misconstrued as reflecting the president’s or the Presidency’s views. He stressed that regardless of personal feelings, these individuals are recognized as Northern Elders, and insulting them is equivalent to insulting the entire people of the region.
Marafa, having worked closely with Asiwaju (as he was then known) from the formation of APC through the primaries that led to the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as APC presidential candidate in Lagos, the politics of the National Assembly leadership in 2015 and 2019, and the processes and intrigues that characterized the 2023 Presidential Primaries, affirmed that President Tinubu holds the North, the Northerners, and their leaders in high regard.
Although Marafa clarified that he does not speak for the president or the Presidency, he categorically stated that Matawalle’s view is his personal opinion and does not represent the stance of Mr. President or the Presidency, and should, therefore, be disregarded.
