Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on Thursday announced the appointment of Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura as new convener for the forum.
The appointment of Daura came in the wake of the resignation by Paul Unongo following his controversial statement over herdsmen killings in Benue state. Before his appointment, Daura was the forum’s deputy convener.
The former convener, Unongo, who was at the mass burial of 73 persons killed by Fulani herdsmen alongside a war veteran, General Lawrence Onoja (Rtd) called for the arrest of those responsible for the killings of innocent persons in Logo and Goma Local government areas of the state, threatening to raise own army for self defense if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to protect lives and property of people in the state
Unongo, who tendered his resignation yesterday at an emergency meeting of the forum in Abuja said: “I opted to step down because of my conviction that the time has come for the NEF to produce the type of leaders that will implement some suggestions we have made. My stepping down will also afford me the opportunity to concentrate fully on other things that will further move the country forward.”
But the forum’s spokesman, professor Ango Abdullahi in a statement said the Forum reluctantly accepted the offer of its Convener to step aside to allow the emergence of a structured leadership which should prepare the Forum to deal with many of the challenges facing the North.
Acknowledging Unongo’s resignation, Abdulahi said it is pertinent for all leaders to observe restraint and responsibility in the manner they exercise their powers to shape opinion and determine the responses of the citizens.
The statement reads, “the Forum condoles all the families and communities that have lost members and assets, and demands the federal and state authorities to take more decisive steps to restore the security of lives and property of citizens.
“The Forum calls on all leaders to observe restraint and responsibility in the manner they exercise their powers to shape opinion and determine the responses of the citizens.