Ango Abdullahi, chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), says there is a need to strategise for the good of Nigeria, ahead of the 2023 elections.
Abdullahi spoke after meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, on Tuesday.
According to Kehinde Akinyemi, media aide of the former president, Abdullahi was accompanied by Nastura Shariff, chairman of the board of trustees, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), and Aminu Adam, CNG’s director of action and mobilisation.
The NEF chairman was quoted as saying that in spite of their ages, they can still contribute to society and the country.
“I don’t want to stay away from him for so many months or years without seeing him, especially at this period,” he said.
“So, I’m visiting him to say hello and get a briefing from him on how I feel about the nation. We also briefed him on how we feel about the nation. We compare some notes and we agreed on some grounds.”
Asked if the visiting group were on the same page with the host on issues discussed during the meeting, Abdullahi replied: “Yes. We are on the same page and Insha Allah it shall be well.
“We have been having challenges and we have been talking on this. You are in the media and you know what we have been saying about the situation in the country. Things are not good enough and as we head for 2023, we hope to be strategising for the good of the nation.”
The NEF chairman is among those who backed the clamour for the rehabilitation of repentant bandits.
He also suggested that the federal government should offer amnesty to bandits, in the same manner as Niger Delta militants.
