Core Northern Professional Forum (CNPF) has upbraided Senator Kabiru Marafa over his scathing attacks on the Defence Minister, Mr Bello Matawalle for standing solidly behind the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
CNPF President General, Malam Mikailu Kabiru Arabi in a statement insisted that the tantrum by the Marafa-backed NEF was not a true reflection of the position of the generality of the people of the north irrespective of their religious and ethnic leanings
The group remarked that the recent outburst by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle against the NEF was a step in the right direction.
The group noted that Marafa conduct fell short of what is expected of a northern elder who should be in support of President Tinubu effort to tackle the challenges of insecurity, education, agriculture and unemployment in the polity.
The group contended that Matawalle’s exceptional experience in the fight against criminal elements and their activities have been useful to President Tinubu in addressing the security challenges in tbe country.
The group reiterated their resolve to throw their weights behind President Tinubu in the event he wants to seek a second term in office in the 2027 poll.
The group noted: “These elders should know that we have come of age and are wiser over their conness that they can no longer be dragging or pushing us the way they want.
“We wish to encourage the Minister to be steadfast in running his office, especially in the fight against insecurity, if anyone wants progress to the north, let them join hands with the government by giving useful workable solutions to our predicament so that we will know we have elders who did not depart from what and how our founding fathers wished the north, the northerners and the early beneficiaries now turned elders to be.
“Marafa has refused to understand the dynamics of Nigerian politics and is still living in 2019 and moving backwards in the years of politics when he would make noise and people listened, the nation has since advanced and it will be a serious waste of time and setback for Matawalle as Minister to join issues with the likes of Marafa at a time he needs to concentrate on meeting the yearnings of Nigerians to see the end of insecurity especially armed banditry and kidnapping which have continued to be on the front burner of the Tinubu led administration and being appreciated by the larger Nigerians.”
