Our politics is additional burden on Nigerians citizens – NEF

By Abubakar Yunusa

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said that Nigeria politics has become an additional burden on Nigerian citizens, adding that the process dwarf the spreading of insecurity, poverty, and cynicism.

Its Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Baba-Ahmed in a statement said, we are deeply concerned over developments in many aspects of our politics as they relate to preparations for the 2023 elections and beyond.

According to him, the search for a running mate for the APC’s Presidential candidate with the religious faith of two individuals as the sole issue at stake represents a sad reminder that our politicians will not allow our democratic system to grow beyond the narrowest of confinements.

He said “Our politics has become an additional burden on the Nigerian citizen, even dwarfing spreading insecurity, poverty, and cynicism over the prospects of our survival as one nation. If the way our politicians are seeking power is any indicator of the quality of leadership they will provide, then the nation has a very genuine reason to worry over its future.

“Other leaders representing particular interests compound our worries with periodic threats and ultimatums that an already weakened leadership has no solution for. The prospects for the safe conduct of electoral activities and a free and fair election are being threatened by the conduct of our politicians.

“We must find the resolve and the strength to step back and pull the nation away from its current precarious position. What is at stake is more than an election. It is the survival of our country, he said

While explaining on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, Baba said Nigerians take their faith seriously, but we are also painfully aware that the faith of our leaders has never been a factor in the manner we are governed.

“The political maneuvers in the APC now divert attention from serious issues around the quality of governance and point to the danger that we are a multi-religious country whose citizens will pay dearly if one politician is not a Christian or Muslim.

“Politicians are desperately shepherding Nigerians into two irreconcilable religious divides, all in a bid to garner undeserved advantages at the expense of religious tolerance and co-existence.

“Instead of exploring options and opportunities that will improve their chances of giving Nigerians real and credible, we only witness frightening levels of hostility and ethnic chauvinism, as we saw recently in exchanges between Labour Party and NNPP leaders, he said.