The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) whose members wear green scarfs with the inscription”proudly Nigerian” has distanced itself from a newspaper report that described President Muhammadu Buhari’s perceived reelection bid as insensitive.
Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, spokesperson of the group which made headlines with its quit order to the Igbo in June 2017, said they are alarmed that even though their name was not actually mentioned throughout the report, the picture of their leaders was however used to qualify the story.
Suleiman in a press release issued issued at the weekend, said the CNG has never discussed the politics of ,2019 let alone take sides with any presidential aspiration.
” What we are concerned with presently is the more imminent and present danger of abuse of illicit drugs and other harmful substances that is currently ravaging northern households and Youth,” the CNG spokesperson said.
He urged media editors to remain alive to the primary responsibility of verifying stories and ensuring the use of corresponding photographs to qualify them.
“We became alarmed when the report in question boldly bears the photographs of some of our Coalition leaders whereas we are not in any way connected to it. We are currently deep in the struggle of saving the north from the scourge of drug abuse particularly among its Youth and womenfolk,” Suleiman man adding that the Area Youth Forum which is responsible for the report is never of the CNG nor affiliated to it in any way.
