‘North Did Not Protest Against Tinubu And Keep Quiet Against Buhari’ –

The spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Abdulaziz Sulaiman, has debunked the speculations making round that northerners joined the #EndBadGovernance protest because President Bola Tinubu is a southerner.

According to Suleiman, while ex-president, Muhammadu Buhari was in office he had criticis and voice against his policies from the north.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, he said, “The notion that the recent resurgence of protests in the North is solely due to the fact that a non-northerner is currently the president is a misguided one. It is important to acknowledge that the North did not remain quiet during President Buhari’s tenure, as there were various voices of dissent and criticism from within the region itself.

“As a member of the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, I vividly remember how we protested and criticized the Buhari administration for its shortcomings and failures.

“The Northern Elders Forum and other sections of the northern political class, Ulama, and intelligentsia also voiced their dissatisfaction and in some cases even called for the president’s resignation.

“Notably, individuals like Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Buba Galadima, and Najatu Mohammed were among the most consistent critics of the Buhari government, all hailing from the North.

“Their relentless efforts to highlight governance failures and demand accountability demonstrate that dissent from the North was indeed present throughout Buhari’s tenure, highlighting that it was not monolithic support for Buhari within the region.

“The key factor to consider in the recent protests is the timing and shifting dynamics of the political landscape.

“You also need to look at the level of frustration, the severity of the situation, and the extent of mobilization which have all contributed to the current wave of protests.

“It is crucial to recognize that the #EndSARS protests, which largely originated in the South, were driven by specific concerns regarding police brutality, while the #EndInsecurity protests in the North also reflected regional challenges.

“The convergence of interests, particularly regarding the issue of hunger which affects all regions, has led to the observed increased participation from the North in the current protests.

“The current protests highlight a collective desire for change and accountability that transcends regional boundaries, emphasizing the need for a united effort to address the challenges facing Nigeria.

“The unity of purpose in the current protests can be attributed to a convergence of interests against common issues such as hunger and insecurity, which transcend regional boundaries.

“It is not merely a reflection of dissatisfaction with the current president’s ethnicity but rather a response to systemic failures that have impacted all Nigerians, regardless of their background.

“It is important to understand the nuanced reasons behind the recent protests in the North and not reduce them to simplistic explanations based on ethnicity.

“The voices of dissent within the region have always existed, and the current mobilization is a reflection of broader concerns that cut across geographical divides.”