By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Kaduna.
A group under the auspices of Northern Unity Forum (NUF) a supposed umbrella body for unity and development of the region has sound a note of warning to Senator Kabiru Marafa representing Zamfara Central, to sheath his sword and stop the attack of Senator Abubakar Bukola SarakiPresident of the Senate.
NUF in a statement signed by its chairman, Suleiman Yaro and made available to newsmen in Kaduna today, noted that the North that late Premier of the region, Sir Ahmadu Bello worked tirelessly to build has become disunited and fragile through schemes and machinations of men in power.
The group urged Senator Marafa to support the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the Senate under Distinguished Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
The statement read in part thus; “Today, you hear of North and core-North, a coinage that was imported to weaken the one monolithic north of the late Sardauna of Sokoto.”
It stated that the region has for over six years now witnessed monumental displacement of its citizens em-mass through insurgency and other vices that has further impoverished the region.
He further said that now that efforts are being intensified to resettle and develop the region, some Senators under the guise of Senate Unity Forum (SUF) led by the Zamfara Central Senator are out to stall the noble effort of the Senate under Dr. Saraki’s leadership.
NUF therefore advised SUF and its leadership to join hands with the Saraki led senate to bring even development to the devastated North-East as his (Marafa) “sole effort for self aggrandisement will not receive the support of the North.”
The group alleged that the sponsored protest in the National Assembly against the suspension of Senator Marafa by hired protesters was baseless, and the call for the suspension of the Senate President as senseless. It said Marafa’s opposition to Saraki’s emergence as Senate President was only for self, as he continues to give varied reason for his fight against the Senate.
“In the days following the announcement of the Senate Standing Committees by the Senate President, Senator Marafa made available a well-publicized article stating that Saraki had done right in the constitution of the Senate committees, and there would be no cause for alarm” the statement alleged
The statement quoted Marafa to have said, “Many like me thought that this development spelled out that peace would once again rein in the Senate.”
But on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, Marafa began to change songs by coming to the floor of the Senate armed with a new argument to change his mind from his earlier statement, the group alleged.
“This is where we differ with the Senator that his intention is not for the good of the Senate, the North and Nigeria at large. We warn that further act of dissident in the Senate will be resisted with all vehemence” the group warned.
