Senator Marafa Calls for Withdrawal of Offensive Remarks Against Northern Elders by Minister Matawalle

Senator Kabiru Marafa, a leading member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima 2023 Presidential Campaign in Zamfara State, has urged the Minister of State for Defence, Mr Bello Matawalle, to retract his offensive comments about the Northern Elders Forum.

In a statement, Marafa expressed concern that Matawalle’s remarks, which referred to the Northern Elders as a political burden to the North and described them as ‘paperweights’, could harm President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s electoral fortunes in the region.

Marafa emphasized that the Northern elders are held in high esteem by President Tinubu and should not be insulted.

Marafa advised that rather than making such statements, Matawalle should focus on listing the achievements, programmes, and policies of President Tinubu in the North and the country as a whole in the first 10 months of his administration.

He also pointed out that what President Tinubu needs from his appointees is support, loyalty, and hard work to actualize his Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at addressing the numerous challenges facing the country.

Furthermore, Marafa called on the minister to withdraw his offensive statement and offer an apology to the Northern elders and Northerners in general.

He stressed that insulting the Northern elders is tantamount to insulting the entire people of the region and that President Tinubu holds the North, the Northerners, and their leaders in high esteem.

This incident has highlighted the importance of respecting and valuing the contributions of elders and leaders within the region and the potential consequences of making disparaging remarks.

As Nigeria continues to navigate through various challenges, unity and respect for diverse opinions are crucial for progress and prosperity.