A former lawmaker who represented Zamfara Central senatorial district in the Seventh and the Eight Senate, Kabiru Marafa, disagreed with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, saying that Northern elders are not insignificant at all.
He also said that President Bola Tinubu has great respect for the North, Northerners, and their leaders.
Matawalle stated that the Northern Elders Forum is a political burden to the North and does not represent the region, which Marafa contested as disrespectful and unhelpful.
Marafa argued that labeling the elders of the region as such was counterproductive and disrespectful to the president's efforts in addressing various challenges like terrorism, insurgency, economic inequalities, and infrastructural decline.
Marafa urged the minister to withdraw his offensive remarks and apologize to the Northern elders and the Northern population as a whole.
He mentioned receiving calls from concerned stakeholders in the region and the APC, expressing worry that the minister's statement could negatively impact the president's electoral prospects, as it might be seen as reflecting the president's views.
He emphasized that insulting the elders is akin to insulting the entire region, regardless of personal feelings towards them.
Senator Marafa stressed that insulting elders goes against their cultural values, and he highlighted his history of working closely with President Tinubu.
He emphasized that it is not acceptable to refer to elders as a burden and that the North should not be treated differently in this regard.
Marafa, reflecting on his close work with President Tinubu, asserted that the president holds the North, Northerners, and their leaders in high regard.
He clarified that his statement is not representative of the President or the Presidency and should be dismissed as personal opinion.
Marafa reiterated that the North, Northerners, and the Northern elders are not insignificant in the region and the country as a whole, and stated that the president shares this perspective.
