The Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) has congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his “well-deserved victory” in the February 25 presidential election.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the Arewa House in Kaduna, the spokesperson of the group Comrade Abdulsalam Moh’d Kazeem also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting “the most credible and transparent election in the history of Nigeria”.
He said, “As northerners, we are pleased with his victory and without being selfish want to identify and work with him when he’s eventually sworn in on the 29th of May, 2023 Insha Allah.
“The fact that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, contested with Bola Tinubu under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lost does not mean we should join other undemocratic groups and networks in the country to condemn and discredit one of the most credible elections in the history of Nigeria.
“We are more concerned with the progress of Nigeria and with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a new Nigeria is possible.”
The group also commended INEC chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu “for making history and delivering an impeccable election despite the aggressive work of saboteurs and enemies of democracy in Nigeria.
“Members of the opposition and Civil Society Organisations that have sold their souls to the opposition should note that no election is completely devoid of issues and Nigeria is an expansive and diverse country with a lot of challenges bordering on logistics and human failures.
“What Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has done by maneuvering through all the hurdles and giving a worthy election deserves commendations and not condemnation.
“Despite widespread fears bothering on insecurity and kidnappings and against the judgment of many analysts that elections will not hold in many parts of the country, INEC under Mahmoud Yakubu delivered a world class election all over the country including flashpoints of violent extremism and terrorism such as Borno and Zamfara states.
“Secondly, the Naira redesign and fiscal policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria came at a time when INEC was putting finishing touches to its preparations. One needs not to be told that most of INECs activities including training and logistics are money based.
“Still, INEC went ahead and surmounted these challenges without shifting the date of the elections. Disregarding these giant strides and concentrating on very insignificant events is unpatriotic and diversionary.”
Kazeem said “Insinuating that the just concluded elections is not free and fair is laughable because, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, Lagos state voted against Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Buhari lost elections in his state. Similarly, about seven serving Governors lost their senatorial elections.”
He said those calling for the cancellation of this election are enemies of Nigeria and must not be given a listening ear. “Calling for the cancellation of an election that has been conducted in the most peaceful and orderly manner across the country is simply mischievous and a call for the abortion of democracy. This election is the best Nigeria ever had and cannot be compared to the 1993 or even 1999 elections,” the group said.
