Ahead of the forthcoming general election,the Northen Elders Forum has concerns over the attacks on government buildings and killings, including killing of policemen in the region.
The forum also called on the administration of president Muhammadu Buhari to assert its legitimate authority on any lawless group in any part of the country and ensure that voters are not prevented or threatened.
The forum in a statement signed by its Director, Publicity and Advocacy,Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed lament that without a robust challenge of these dangerous trends, those behind these lawless acts are likely to assume that they will succeed.
According to him,a these threats are being followed by actual attacks on government buildings and killings, including killing of policemen in the region.
Baba in his word;”It has been the consistent position of the Forum and other patriotic groups that the 2023 elections must hold throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“Any attempt to interfere in the rights of Nigerians to participate in the election of their leaders is a serious assault on the sovereignty of Nigeria and an act that must be resisted.
“Nigerians want a credible election and a peaceful transition to the next administration, and no group should be allowed to plunge the nation into deeper crises by tolerating threats to the elections and peace in the country.
“A threat to the elections is a threat to the democratic system, and the very foundations on which the nation rests.If it succeeds, this threat will signal the start of other crises the country may not recover from.
“For the avoidance of doubt, these threats from groups in the South East are cowardly and childish. Nonetheless, those behind them should know that they will be resisted,”he said .
