Key groups in the Northern states have clashed over policies enacted by President Bola Tinubu, with some viewing them as harmful to the region.
The latest of such is the relocation of key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has emerged as a prominent critic, contending that the action diminishes Abuja’s status as the capital city and poses adverse financial consequences for both the CBN and the nation.
Spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman warned against the President’s “sectional considerations,” accusing him of policies that “further impoverish the North” while enriching other parts.
He threatened political consequences in the 2027 elections if Tinubu fails to address these concerns.
His said: “We are not a forum that whitewashes or smears any administration, including that of Tinubu. We have established a standard of judgment that we will not compromise, which is characterised by being respectful and responsible in our relationships with leaders at all levels, and speaking truth to power. We will not lower the bar when it comes to the interests of the North, the unity and security of Nigeria, or the welfare of all citizens.
“It is our duty to remind President Tinubu that his policies, many of which appear to further impoverish the North while enriching other parts of the country, have resulted in hunger stalking millions of homes. Inflation is making life increasingly difficult, people are losing their jobs, businesses are closing down, and infrastructure is decaying.”
