In advance of the general elections in 2023, elders from the northern region of Nigeria have explained why they are speaking with presidential contenders.
The elders from the north said the meeting offers a chance for the north to question the candidates about their plans to address the nation’s many issues, particularly those that are specific to the north.
An interactive session is being held by the Northerner Elders Forum and other important regional stakeholders to learn about the proposals of the presidential contenders for the area.
In-depth questions about their plans for the nation and the region were posed to three of the presidential candidates for next year’s election by leading northern groups on Saturday.
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A panel of the Arewa Joint Committee, made up of representatives of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Arewa House, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), the Arewa Research and Development Project, and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa, is expected to hear from a total of six presidential candidates.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) Prince Adewole Adebayo both participated in the interactive session, which started on Saturday with the presidential candidate of the PRP, Kola Abiola.
Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the joint committee’s chairman, stated during the session that the discussion would help the North decide which candidate had the greatest ideas as well as give the candidates a chance to present their vision for the nation.
In a similar vein, Munir Jafaru, the prince of Zazzau and Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, stated that the meeting will provide the North with a chance to hear the candidates’ plans for resolving the issues in northern Nigeria.
Today’s session will continue with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as the next presidential candidate. Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) will then follow.
