Says, ‘NEF can’t speak for North
Barely two days after Maitama Sule-led Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) issued an ultimatum to President Goodluck Jonathan to either rescue the adopted Chibok schoolgirls and end insurgency in the North or forget ‎his 2015 re-election bid, Alhaji Tanko Yankassai’s group, Northern Elders Council (NEC), said yesterday the latter doesn’t have such power.
Spokesman of NEC, Amb. Yusufu Mamman, who addressed journalists in Abuja, said the NEF does not represent the interest of the North, neither does it have any moral obligation to speak on behalf of the region. Mamman said those promoting NEF were doing so to satisfy their selfish desires, adding that ending the insurgency in the North requires the collective efforts of every Nigerian.
NEC said it supports the efforts of the Federal Government against the insurgents, saying that it equally appreciates the timeline as agreed by the Council of State towards ending terrorism and similar crimes nation-wide on or before the end of the year. Unlike NEF, Mamman said, NEC appreciates the country’s security agencies for their untiring efforts and sacrifices to end the senseless killings of citizens.
“Terrorism, as we all are aware, is a global phenomenon and any attempt to politicise it will not augur well for the country. It is time that we understood and fully appreciate the danger posed by this menace so that we put all hands on deck and cooperate ‎with the government towards ending the scourge.
“Insurgency does not recognise sectional, ethnic, linguistic or cultural interests as it has no respect for them. To ensure that insurgency is checked, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said that he will mobilise logistical and international support to ensure that our security agencies are fully provided their needs to motivate them in surmounting the challenges posed by insecurity.
“Nigerians and the world at large are aware that the President held a meeting with the parents of the Chibok girls, assuring them of the safe return of their children,” Mamman said.
“We call on all Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of our elder statesmen from the North who are supporting the government in ending the insurgency.
“We call on all compatriots to separately and collectively join hands with the members of the Council of State and the Federal Government in the collective fight against insurgency. It is not time to criticise, but a time to cooperate,” he said.

Chibok ultimatum: Yakassai blasts northern elders