Northern political leaders under the aegis of National Political Consultative Group (North) have agreed to present one presidential candidate to tackle President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
This was as the leaders also agreed to unveil a political platform to that effect soon, urging Nigerians, whose governors and other elected officials recently endorsed Tinubu for a second term, to sanction those officials for taking decisions without consulting with them.
The resolutions were reached at the end of a meeting of the group which held Sunday evening in Abuja.
Some of those who attended the meeting were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; and the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN who delivered the keynote address.
Also, goodwill messages were delivered by leaders from the South-South, South-East and South-West geo-political zones represented by former Transportation minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; the 2023 Labour Party LP Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi; and, a former Interior minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, respectively.
According to him, the 2nd Expanded Meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North), was attended by prominent political leaders drawn from all the 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory FCT with the main focus of reviewing the challenges of insecurity in the North.
He said “the group was founded with the objective of uniting Northern political leaders and forging a strong relationship and working as a united interest group, as much as possible within a political party”.
Part of the resolutions reached were; “Delegates acknowledged that insecurity had reached unprecedented level under the present administration, aggravating poverty, hunger, destitution and near collapse of education at the primary and secondary levels.
“Delegates agreed that the three major drivers of any society are fear, emotions and knowledge and resolved that the North must not allow itself to be driven by fear nor emotions but by knowledge.
“Delegates resolved that the North must proceed with a united front in political choice going forward to ensure the region gets its maximum return in national political participation.
“Urged that the political platform on which the interest of region will be pursued should be unveiled urgently.
“That the region and indeed the nation need selfless leaders both in the management of political parties as well as public sector governance.
“Decried the impunity of elected leaders who run away with the peoples mandate by purporting to make decisions for their constituents without consultation, citing the recent developments in which elected state Governors and legislators are usurping the power of the people by endorsing other persons and themselves for re-election to political offices without reference to their constituents, advising that constituents should sanction such elected officials to serve as deterrent.
“Agreed on the need to escalate the Group’s initiative to all the 19 States and FCT though the provision of the appropriate template.
“Resolved that the region must prioritise and promote industrialisation and high productivity in all sectors in order to exit the present economic quagmire.
“That in working towards a United North, the issue of equity, fairness and justice, both within and between states, must be addressed comprehensively.
“That, going forward, the North must premise its support for candidates at elections on enforceable agreement for the purpose of ensuring and protecting the informed interests of the region, irrespective of where the candidates come from.
“The meeting finally resolved to setup committees to facilitate implementation of decisions and resolutions of the meeting”.
Vanguard