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2023: Northern elders flay alleged inciting statement against Peter Obi by Katsina based activist

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Northern elders have carpeted Katsina-based activist, Shehu Mahdi, over what they termed a provocative statement against the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election.

A video of the statement which has gone viral captured the ethnic champion advising Christians in the North against voting for a presidential candidate of southern extraction in the election.

In the video, already in the social media space, the Katsina-born activist was seen urging Northern Christians not to vote for Christian Candidates from the South, particularly the Labour Party, LP, candidate, Mr Peter Obi, purporting that a vote for him would amount to a vote for Biafra, and a secessionist.

Madhi further claimed that Northerners – both Christians and Muslims – are being discriminated against in the South East, South West, and South-South, hence his despicable outing.

But in an angry reaction to the development, the Coalition of Northern Elders For Peace and National Unity, CNEFPNU, described the disposition of Mahdi as “distasteful, provocative, and capable of inciting ethnoreligious tension”.

While insisting that the outing constituted hate speech and fake news, the elders called on relevant security agencies to arrest, interrogate, and where culpability is established, prosecute him, to serve as deterrence to others, who may contemplate such an infamous path especially as political parties would soon commence their campaigns.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Prof Abdulkadir Mohammed Gummi, and National Secretary, Hajiya Hadiza M. Gwazo, the elders maintained that the position of Madhi was a brazen attempt to incite Christians against Muslims in the North on one hand, and Northerners against Southerners on the other.

“As responsible Northern elders, we view the video by Shehu Mahdi, as a deliberate attempt to instigate ethnoreligious tension in the country, hence our call on relevant security agencies to take him in immediately for questioning.

“We further enjoin our people to disregard the provocative comments made by Mahdi, even as we urge them to vote for presidential candidates of their choice, devoid of ethnic, religious, or political consideration.

“May we also clarify that having followed Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, for a long time now, we can say, without equivocation, that he is a detribalised, and patriotic Nigerian, who has the interest of the ordinary people at heart”, the statement read in part.

According to the patriots, by calling out Northern Christians and urging them not to vote for Obi, Madhi has inadvertently demonstrated that Christians in the North should be held accountable, should an unpopular candidate from the South emerge as President in 2023.

The statement reads: “This would mean that Christians from the North would automatically become targets of disparaging remarks and violence.

“Secondly, Mahdi’s charge is laced with a lot of tribal and religious slur aimed at causing disaffection between Northerners and Southers, Northerners against Igbos and Northerners against Southeast in general.

“In an election period and in a period when Northern Nigeria is going through a very turbulent period, what the North needs is unity in face of all odds and not a campaign of calumny against anyone or region.

“As far as the coalition of Northern Elders Forum for Peace and Unity is concerned, Peter Obi was duly certified and cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), the Department of State Security ( DSS ) as a Nigerian who is eligible to contest for any elective office.

“INEC which cleared Obi did not say that the Labour Party Flag bearer is a Biafran. The DSS did not come out to say Obi is from Biafra and these organisations are headed by Northerners. Nigerians should be asking Madhi to tell them how he came about his allegations against Obi.

“Mr Peter Obi is running to be President of Nigeria and not President of Biafra or Igbos or Southern Nigeria. His ambition according to him is to guarantee economic prosperity and security for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, tribal, or religious affiliation.

“The Peter Obi campaign is broad-based and all-inclusive. His track record of inclusivity is not in doubt. It is callous for anyone to accuse Peter Obi of running to represent the interest of Biafra. Peter Obi is running to represent the interest of all Nigerians”.

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