In response to comments made by Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, criticized the NEF as a "political paperweight." Suleiman had suggested that the North erred in voting for President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Matawalle, in a statement, characterized the NEF as a political burden to northerners, accusing them of seeking relevance despite the failure of their sponsored candidates in the 2023 elections.
He questioned NEF's attempt to undermine Tinubu's victory and criticized their lack of engagement with the President and relevant government ministers on issues affecting the northern region. Matawalle concluded that NEF's refusal to accept reality is indicative of their delusional state.
