You’re General Without Troops, Lacked Credibility, Presidency Tells Ango Abdullahi-Led NEF

The Presidency on Sunday fired back at Prof Ango Abdullahi-led Northern Elders Forum (NEF), describing it as a General without troops just it said the forum lacked credibility.

The NEF had earlier on Sunday in a press conference said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has failed the nation.

But a State House statement by presidential media aide, Mr Femi Adesina, described the NEF as quasi organization that boasts of no credible membership.

The Presidency stated, “Prof. Ango Abdullahi on Sunday signed a long-winding statement on many issues relating to the North, and purportedly to the country.

“The former Vice-Chancellor signed the statement under the banner of Northern Elders Forum. Hearing that title, you would think the body was a conglomeration of true elders.

“But the truth is that NEF is just Ango Abdullahi, and Ango Abdullahi is NEF. It is a quasi-organisation that boasts of no credible membership, and its leader is akin to a General without troops.”

The Presidency recalled how ahead of the 2019 presidential poll, the NEF allegedly opposed Buhari’s bid to seek a second term by backing another candidate.

However, it said the preferred NEF candidate lost.

“NEF is merely waving a flag that is at half-mast. President Buhari steadily and steadfastly focuses on the task of retooling Nigeria, and discerning Nigerians know the true state of the nation.

“They don’t need a paper tiger to tell them anything.”