Why we are engaging presidential candidates — Northern elders

Elders from the northern part of Nigeria have explained why they organised an interactive session with top presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections, saying it presents an opportunity for the North to interrogate the candidates on how they intend to address the country’s myriad of problems especially in the northern region.

Top northern groups on Saturday subjected three of the presidential candidates of next year’s presidential election to intense questioning on their plans for the country and the region.

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A total of six presidential candidates are expected to present themselves before a panel of the Arewa Joint Committee which consists of members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Arewa House, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa Research and Development Project and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa.

The interactive session which began on Saturday  with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Kola Abiola, also had in session, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and later that of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo.

Speaking at the session, chairman of the joint committee, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the interaction would not only provide an opportunity for the candidates to share their vision for the country but also shape the North’s decision on who possessed the best ideas.

In a similar manner, the Chairman, Advisory Council, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, and Zazzau prince, Munir Jafaru, said the session will give the North an opportunity to hear from the candidates on how they intend to address the problems of northern Nigeria.

Daily Trust reports that the session will continue today with the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, which will be followed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and end with the candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.