History

NOTHERN ELDERS FORUM

History

History and Formation:

The Northern Elders Forum was formally established in 2001, although it had existed informally for some years before that, with prominent figures from the northern region coming together to discuss issues concerning the welfare and progress of the region. It emerged during a time when Nigeria was undergoing significant political, social, and economic changes, including the transition from military rule to civilian governance in 1999.

The formation of the Northern Elders Forum was, in part, a response to what many leaders in the north perceived as the marginalization of the region in national politics and governance. The region, which was one of the most populous and diverse in Nigeria, faced challenges like poverty, underdevelopment, insecurity, and political instability. The forum was seen as a way to provide a unified voice for the north and to advocate for policies that would foster the region's growth and development.

Objectives:

The key objectives of the Northern Elders Forum include:

1.      Political Advocacy: The NEF works to influence national politics, ensuring that the northern region’s interests are well-represented in government, particularly with regard to resource allocation, governance, and federal appointments.

2.      Promoting Peace and Unity: It seeks to foster peace, unity, and understanding both within the northern region and across Nigeria as a whole. This has been especially important in the context of ethnic and religious tensions, as well as conflicts such as the Boko Haram insurgency and communal violence in northern Nigeria.

3.      Developmental Issues: The forum focuses on economic and infrastructural development in northern Nigeria, which has traditionally lagged behind other regions in terms of education, healthcare, and industrialization.

4.      Security Concerns: The NEF has consistently raised concerns about the rising insecurity in northern Nigeria, particularly the insurgency in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, and kidnappings across the region. The forum has called for more effective government responses to these issues.

Leadership:

The leadership of the Northern Elders Forum has traditionally consisted of respected figures from the northern political, academic, and traditional establishments. One of its most prominent early leaders was Alhaji Ango Abdullahi, a former vice-chancellor and a former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, who played a major role in its formation and led the group for many years.

Other influential figures who have been part of the forum include:

• General Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria's former president and leader of the All Progressives Congress)
• Atiku Abubakar (former vice president of Nigeria and leader of the People's Democratic Party)
• Ibrahim Babangida (former military president)
• Sule Lamido (former governor of Jigawa State)
• Rochas Okorocha (former governor of Imo State)

Key Events and Activities:

1.      Political Influence: Over the years, the NEF has played a significant role in shaping political alliances and the direction of political parties, especially in the context of presidential elections. In some cases, it has endorsed candidates or taken positions on national issues that align with the interests of the north.

2.      Northern Nigeria’s Development Challenges: The forum has repeatedly highlighted the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, and underdevelopment in northern Nigeria. In 2010, for example, the NEF launched a campaign to improve the educational system in the north, aiming to address the alarming rate of out-of-school children and the region's educational lag.

3.      The 2015 and 2019 Elections: During the 2015 and 2019 general elections, the NEF was vocal about issues related to the integrity of the electoral process, the security situation in the country, and the need for greater focus on the north’s development.

4.      Security and Conflict Resolution: The NEF has often called on the Nigerian government to take more decisive action in combating insurgency, terrorism, and armed banditry in the northern part of the country. It has organized several forums and meetings to discuss strategies for dealing with these crises, sometimes hosting security experts and government officials.

Public Statements: The NEF is known for issuing statements on national issues, from the performance of elected officials to concerns about governance. For example, in the aftermath of the 2019 election, the forum made public statements on the state of insecurity and the need for the government to prioritize the welfare of northern Nigerians.