Northern group laments Buhari, IBB alliance

Prominent northern group, Northern Emancipation Net­work (NEM), has stated that the endorsement of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candi­date, General Muhammadu Buhari, by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, raises moral questions.

On Monday, when Buhari visited Babangida, APC chief­tain said the latter gave him his blessing in his quest to become next president.

Reacting in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Abdu­lazeez Suleiman, yesterday, in Abuja, NEM said it was worried by unfolding events in the count­down to the general elections.

The group said: “Our worry is hinged on the many moral questions that surround the per­sonality of General Buhari, who was imposed by the APC as rep­resenting the North in the presi­dential election.

“The most worrying is the nature of double standards that are now shaping Buhari’s char­acteristics, as he makes a fourth attempt at the presidency.”

Alleging that Buhari had is­sues with his wife for allegedly receiving gifts from Babangida, who toppled him in 1985, NEM queried Monday’s alleged en­dorsement of Buhari by Baban­gida, accusing the APC candi­date of desperation.

“First, we find it quite unfor­tunate that the same Buhari is now, out of sheer desperation, turning to Babangida for politi­cal support,” NEM said, adding: “We were, therefore, amazed when reports said that Buhari had personally gone to seek sup­port from IBB and Obasanjo, both of whom he once described as political enemies in an inter­view with Weekly Trust. Based on this and many other moral questions around Buhari, our group is compelled to reiterate its stand that he is not and cannot be the sole northern candidate for the presidency.”

Stating that NEM was con­cerned that certain desperation to take power in 2015 has made the northern political elite so blind as not to consider the quality of candidate that was hoisted by the opposition as the North’s sole candidate, the group frowned at recent claims for the adoption of Buhari as the North’s sole presi­dential candidate by a certain group of elders.

“The North should rather re­ciprocate the many efforts made by President Goodluck Jonathan to change the life of the ordinary northerner than go on a wild goose chase that could further darken its political future,” NEM insisted, even as it called on all well-meaning northerners to re­sist the temptation of dragging the region and its people into the personal war for ascendancy waged by its predator-elite.