The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed disappointment over President Bola Tinubu’s recent national address concerning the ongoing hunger protests, criticizing his silence on the security issues plaguing the North-West and other regions in the North.
In a statement released on Monday by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the NEF highlighted the severe challenges of banditry, kidnapping, rape, and other criminal activities affecting the region. The Forum lamented that Tinubu’s speech did not provide reassurance or address the escalating security crisis impacting the communities.
“They anticipated words of encouragement and an assurance of concrete steps being taken to alleviate the security challenges faced by these communities,” the statement read. The NEF had high hopes for the President’s speech, expecting him to address the dire humanitarian disaster brought about by criminal activities.
The Forum emphasized the need for substantial political will and administrative competence to address the complex challenges of insurgency, banditry, and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). They stressed that these issues must be top priorities for the government, along with rebuilding lives, communities, and infrastructure.
“We expected the President to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and outline concrete plans for addressing these critical issues,” the statement continued. The NEF believes that sustainable solutions to the crisis should prioritize the needs of affected communities and ensure that necessary resources are allocated to support them.
In conclusion, the Northern Elders underscored the importance of the government demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing the humanitarian disaster and proving its capability to lead the nation through these challenging times.
News Editor