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Tag: North

  • Security initiative: the north present, and the south absent?

    There is a need for a public commitment by southern governors to planning to solve the problem of insecurity, the North has started

    A week ago, northern governors resolved to end insecurity in that part of the country. At the meeting, the 19 members of the Northern Governors Forum deliberated on many regional problems they believe to be crying for solution. Two issues stood out:  establishment of a joint financial institution to accelerate the region’s attainment of financial independence from the central government and finding holistic solution to “insecurity currently bedeviling the region and various ways and means of dealing with the situation.” Some would consider the decision of the northern governors a little late, given the magnitude of security breaches in many northern states while many would say ‘better late than never’ and congratulate the region for taking a good move to stop a bad situation. But citizens from the 17 southern states may be wondering about the silence of their governors on security issues in the south.

    Imitation is a fact of life in all sectors. Good governance is to a large extent a product of imitation, just as the spread of democracy results from the will of countries to emulate good governance processes or ‘best practices’ in other countries. If governors in the southern region are still assessing the security situation, they need to act fast, especially that the citizens under their jurisdiction are living in fear for their lives. The situation is very bad in the Southwest, thus calling on governors to act immediately, to prevent further killing and kidnapping of citizens in the region.

    It is a no brainer that governors from the south from all political parties would know, as much as their northern counterparts, that President Buhari should be open to suggestions from the three zones in the south on how to solve the problems of security in the country. It is also constitutional for the government of any state or region to do what Northern Governors Forum has decided to do; providing a plan to the country’s president on how to end insecurity. There is a need for a public commitment by southern governors to planning to solve the problem of insecurity in the land. If anything, the North has started an enviable initiative in this respect and this initiative deserves to gain the attention of southern states.

    If, for whatever reasons, the southern states have difficulties in organizing a Southern Governors Forum to think together like their northern counterparts, nothing should prevent governors in each of the three southern zones to act and talk about how each of them wishes to address the danger of dwindling security. Although the ideal thing would be for the three zones to organize a southern governors forum to address this urgent matter, it is still acceptable for each zone to do something to assure its citizens that governors in each zone has not chosen to ignore the pains of their citizens at the instance of marauders. It is, however, remarkable that the Southwest Governors Forum has renewed  its mission for another four years. The zone should not delay on launching its own Security Advisory Initiative to assist President Buhari and the federal legislature on a matter that means so much to life and property in the region.

    Without doubt, governors in the southwest would have been receiving information from citizens in the region regarding sudden changes in their lives since the onset of herdsmen-farmers conflict and more so since phenomenal rise in cases of kidnapping in various parts of the region. Without exaggeration, citizens in our region are living in fear because of violent kidnappers in different parts of the region. Given that a major driver of money circulation in the southwest is constant traveling for cultural reasons, a situation, such as now exists in the region, which makes traveling a source of anxiety is bound to slow down circulation of money between Yoruba people in the  big cities and the villages and towns in the Southwest.

    Currently, many Yoruba people with the courage to take the risk of traveling out of their regular stations now park their vehicles and patronize public transport between Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and other cities and towns in the Yoruba region, in the hope that traveling in rickety commercial buses would save them from kidnappers. This is not happening. Commercial buses are reported to have been stopped by kidnappers. Of course, a combination of those who reduce traveling out of their stations and those that go by public transport cannot but affect the economy of many towns and villages that depend on weekend visitors from the urban areas.

    Many petrol stations between towns in the Southwest no longer have as many customers as they used to have for fueling vehicles and buying snacks. For example, the population of women who sell food items along the highways in the region has been getting smaller by the day since inter-city roads have become theatres of operation for kidnappers. In many Yoruba towns, more money is circulated between Friday and Saturday than in the rest of the week, but many towns in the region are now receiving fewer of their children living in big urban economies like Lagos and Abuja, apparently because such visitors are now afraid of risking being kidnapped between towns.

    Apart from security problems in states visibly threatened by terrorists like Boko Haram, it is conceivable that northern governors have also observed drastic changes in the flow of inter-city travels in their respective states and that such awareness may have influenced the decision of northern governors to work on plans to assist the federal government towards reinforcing the country’s security. That a few days after the meeting at which such decision was taken, the committee has been able to start work suggests how urgent northern governors view the security situation in their region.

    Whatever may have slowed down southern states from embarking on a similar plan needs to be addressed by southern governors, especially Southwest governors. Given that there may be invisible obstacles to forming and sustaining a Southern Governors Forum, there is no reason for any of the three zones in the south to wait indefinitely on establishing dialogues with their citizens on how to make their communities safe from kidnappers and bandits and how to make farmers in the rural areas safe from harassment from herdsmen. It is, therefore, necessary that Southwest governors provide leadership for study and recommendations on how to improve the region’s security, just as their northern counterparts have set out to do.

    Moreover, it is not in the interest of any region to fail to make recommendations to the federal government on solutions to security problems in each region. Regardless of how busy Southwest governors may be on other matters of governance, they need to respond fast to troubling security deficits in the zone. Threats to the way of life of citizens in the region are rising and require immediate attention of not only governors but citizens as well.   Readiness on the part of Southwest governors to contribute to direly needed templates on peace and safety for all is part of functions of any government that is working towards unity, harmony, and development. It is thus proper for governments in the southwest to arrange bi-partisan committees to prepare the region’s blueprint on security in the region and the country.

    Ideally, no region should fail to respond to the challenges facing a country to which we have all made contributions from the era of decolonization to now. But the Yoruba region should show public interest in seeing, like their northern colleagues, the importance of doing a thorough analysis of the current security challenges and making recommendations to the federal government. There should be no reason to make citizens in the southern states look like orphans with no parents to plead the region’s case. And it is not wise to keep mum over the region’s security and unintentionally leave room for suspicion, especially if at the end if only recommendations on how to secure the country by northern governors reach President Buhari.

    There is a Yoruba proverb worth selling to realistic leaders: Ki omo ma ku, aa ni fi nnkan baba re se oogun (To save a son from a deadly disease should not require sacrificing his father). In political language, national and continental unity, though important, cannot justify sacrificing of innocent citizens in any part.

  • North: In search of lasting peace

    Sir: Northern Nigeria, a region blessed with vast arable land and productive population has become shadow of its former self. The region has turned into theatre of war. From Borno to Sokoto, it is a gory story of blood-letting, arson and hordes of refugees. In fact, the once peaceful and prosperous region has been polarised along ethnic and religious fault lines.

    In the early 60’s and late 80’s, North was synonymous with agriculture and hospitality. The region was the food basket of the nation. It enjoyed relative peace among the diverse ethnic population sandwiched together and shared common historical background.

    Northern Nigeria is today characterised by poverty, illiteracy, ethnic and religious intolerance, cattle rustling, rampaging herdsmen killers and other crises of great magnitude.

    As at the time of writing this, many communities in Taraba and Adamawa states have been sacked by ethnic militias. In Benue State, it is tussle between farmers and herdsmen. The people of Zamfara and Birni-Gwari have been battling with cattle rustlers. The problems are uncountable, beyond lamentation and demand expedited solutions.

    The multi-facet problems affecting the northern states are caused by various factors. Until the return to democracy in 1999, Northern Nigeria enjoyed un-interrupted peace and sound economy.  Although, there were reported cases of pockets of violence in some states, the crises were minimal and were quickly nipped into the bud courtesy of good leadership. Today, intense struggle for political power by desperate politicians has changed the story.

    Secondly, the battle of who controls the resources in the region has increased the tension and fuelled ethno-religious crises. State resources which are supposed to be evenly distributed are cornered by the ruling elites and their cronies. What we graphically see is the picture of grim poverty and unemployment in the region. These twin evils have continued to promote violence.

    Northern Nigeria can regain its lost glory and overcome the multiple security challenges if our political leaders close rank and collectively work together. The new crops of our leaders should emulate the leadership style of late Sardauna, Tafawa Balewa and Joeseph Tarka – all of blessed memories. These leaders led by example. Equity and justice were their watch words. They neither promoted ethnic hatred nor corruptly amass wealth.

    Northern Nigerian can surmount its security challenges if it addresses the problem of poverty and unemployment. The high rate of poverty and unemployment in the region is very alarming. Unless the 19 northern states wage unrelenting war against these problems, the search for lasting solution will remain elusive.

     

    • Ibrahim Mustapha,

     Pambegua, Kaduna State.

  • Table tennis unite North, South Korea

    In continuation of the political peace move by North and South Korea, another significant milestone was achieved at the 2018 ITTF World Team Championships holding in Halmstad, Sweden, as the women teams of North and South Korea agreed to form a team that will battle Japan in the semi-final of the competition.

    North Korea and South Korea had told the umpires that they would not want to compete on the table against each other when they walked onto the court for their quarter-final match. Instead, both teams requested that they wished to form a unified Korean Team to compete together in the semi-final, which will be held on May 4 against Japan.

    The decision for the unified team was a tripartite one between the leaders of the North and South Korean Table Tennis teams and the ITTF.

    ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT who was chairing the ITTF Board of Directors meeting at the time stated:

    “When I informed the Board of Directors about this development, the unified team received a standing ovation from the delegates who showed their sign of support to this historic move.”

    The move follows the North and South Korean leaders’ pledge for “lasting peace” to the Korea peninsula just last week, which portrays that table tennis is the perfect medium to promote peace through sport.

    President of the Table Tennis Association of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea JU Jong Chol stated:

    “This is the result of the strong support provided by the ITTF and IOC. We will do our best to get more successful results internationally in a joint effort between North and South Korea.”

  • Nigeria can never survive without North, says ACF

    Afenifere insists on restructuring

    The debate on Nigeria’s future continued yesterday, with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) declaring that this country cannot survive without the North.

    ACF is the North’s apex socio-cultural group. It is seen as its voice.

    ACF Chairman Ibrahim Coomassie stated this when the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Forum received leaders of the foremost northern women socio-cultural organisation, Jam’iyya Matan Arewa (JMA), in Kaduna.

    The one-time Inspector General of Police said: “We all know that without the North, Nigeria can never survive. We still stand by it. But now is the time to walk the talk in the interest of our people.

    “Chibok girls are still missing. Now it has gone to Dapchi in Yobe State. What happened? Are we always going to be the victims? Boko Haram; see what they did to the Northeast. They have spread over to the Northcentral and even to the southern part of the country.

    “Should we continue to be regarded in the negative side? No. We are leaders in our own right and we must exercise this responsibility for our people”.

    “Whenever there is crisis, women and children are always the major victims. Enough is enough. Enough of killings of our women and children, enough of kidnapping of our daughters and enough of destruction of our property. We are proud that you have come forward to meet us to discuss this issue.”

    Coomassie urged President Muhammadu Buhari to end the killings and kidnappings.

    JMA Chairperson Aishatu Pamela Sadauki, who was represented by Hajiya Aliko Muhammed, said their visit was to discuss how to protect children and women from incessant attacks.

    She said, as mothers, they had been alarmed by continued abduction of children and unwarranted killings, particularly in the region. She stressed the need to address it now, saying it was imperative.

    Also yesterday, some prominent Yoruba leaders under the umbrella of  Afenifere gathered in Ibadan to restate their stand on restructuring and true federalism  to preserve Nigeria’s unity.

    To the socio-cultural group, led by its National Chairman Chief Reuben Fasoranti, the only solution to the country’s challenges is restructuring.

    Eminent speakers at the Afenifere Oyo State Summit include Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa , Mrs Bukola Oni, Dr. Adebisi Busari, Dr. Gbola Adetunji , Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, and  Chief Sehinde Arogbofa.

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Gbade Ojo.

    Others at the meeting are: Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu , Dr. Olutoyosi Omotoso , Hon. Kehinde Ayoola, Mr. Nureni Adeniran , Mr. Akin Oke , Otunba Deji Osibogun and Mr. Seyi Makinde. There were many others.

    Oyo State Afenifere Chairman Adetunji, pleaded for cohesion and unity of purpose among the Yoruba.

    Ajimobi said the “Yoruba nation must strive to continually be relevant in Nigeria’s political matrix and federal arrangement. We must not relent in networking with other ethnic groups. This has become imperative in view of the fact that in the tripod called the North, the Southwest, and Southeast, no ethnic group can go it alone without the support of others .

    “We must struggle to register our presence at the centre. Any ethnic group that allows itself to be left behind will continue to be at the mercy of others . The Yoruba nation must continue to have voice in the project called Nigeria. This is in the overall interest of our kith and kin. “

    Delivering a lecture titled: “The Yoruba Nation : For better today and tomorrow”, Rev. Ladigbolu called for immediate restructuring of the country to fast rack development .

    He said: “Having been a beneficiary of regional autonomy in my younger days, and having participated as an observer of regional politics, I still have strong feelings that regional autonomy ought to be returned to the Yoruba nation and other states in Nigeria.”

    Rev. Ladigbolu who called for the preservation of Yoruba culture and heritage, said the idea of restructuring is that each component unit or ethnic nationality, no matter how big or small, desires the strength in the number provided by the union with others , but not a uniformity that can retard it’s growth or swallow it up.

     

  • 2019: North and the jostle for Buhari’s job

    2019: North and the jostle for Buhari’s job

    In next year’s election the North believes its ‘right’ to produce the next president of the country is sacrosanct, hence the hot contest within the opposition PDP to field a candidate against the incumbent who looks set to run. Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, in this report examines the dynamics of the race shaping up.

     

    A LITTLE more than a year to the expiration of his first term as the President, a number of political battles are currently on over who succeeds Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come May 2019. These political permutations and moves come amid strong indications that the President, contrary to the expectations of many political gladiators within and outside the ruling party, will be seeking another term in office when his first term expires next year.

    While President Buhari is yet to officially confirm or deny his interest in standing for election again in 2019, in spite of visible anxiety over what he would do politically at the end of his current term, sources within the ruling party and the presidency say recent developments around the President as well as the body language of many of his close aides and associates suggest that Buhari will be seeking to remain in office beyond 2019.

    The waiting game begins

    “The President has never told anybody that he will not be seeking another term. The party on its own is not unaware of this and we respect the fact that as the incumbent and the leader of the party, he deserves the right of first refusal. That is the situation for now. We are patiently waiting for the President to tell us what he wants. For now, he hasn’t said anything but I can assure you he will in due course,” a national officer of the APC said.

    Speaking further, the APC chieftain said current activities and utterances of some of the President’s men however suggest he may be running for the presidency again in 2019. According to him, “a situation where you see serving ministers and Senators forming pressure groups to advance the cause of getting Buhari re-elected, you don’t need to wait for the President to talk before you arrive at the possibility of his re-contesting in 2019.

    “Few days ago, we all saw the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, announcing the formation of a campaign group for President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s re-election. Afterwards, he visited the President and announced a date for the constitution of the Southwest arm of the group. He told reporters that he briefed Buhari about his activities.

    “A few weeks earlier, two serving Senators led a group called Buhari Support Group to Aso Rock to meet the President. They claimed their mission is to work hard towards getting the President re-elected. They too met the President and had audience with him. Speaking afterwards, they announced the readiness of their group to go round the country and canvass support for Buhari. And they have been doing that. All these are indications of things to come.”

    Shittu, had last Wednesday announced the formation of a campaign organisation for the re-election of President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo in 2019.

    The minister spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting with the president, saying the campaign team will be called the “Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group.”

    “I informed Mr. President that I have appointed national chairman of the Board of Trustees of Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group and on January 20 we are commissioning the Southwest zonal office of the campaign organisation of Buhari/ Osinbajo.”

    A consensus on the north

    There seems to be a consensus amongst the political elite that the 2019 presidential election should be left to only northern candidates. Though a couple of southerners like Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and Mumakhai Unagha, a chieftain of the APC in Delta State, have declared interest in the 2019 presidential tickets of the PDP and the APC respectively, not a few pundits say the tickets will surely go to northerners when the dust settles.

    Both the APC and PDP are leaving nobody in doubt of their resolve to give their tickets to northerners. While the APC has not officially announced its own decision, its leading chieftains say considering the delicate political balance of the country, the party will not deny the northern part of the country an opportunity to rule the country for eight years. Buhari will be finishing his first term of four years in May, 2019.

    “We are all aware of what happened in 2009. The north lost its chance to rule the country for eight years following the death of President Umar Yar’Adua. The South, which just had eight years through Obasanjo returned through Jonathan for another six years. So, APC leaders believing in equity, will support a northerner to clinch the presidency again in 2019 whether Buhari is running or not,” our source added.

    On its part, the PDP has consistently announced that its presidential candidate will come from the north. Last August, after its non elective convention, the party announced that it was adopting the recommendation of a committee on zoning which had advised that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2019 general election be zoned to northern geo-political zones.

    The then Chairman of PDP’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, had vowed party leaders would ensure that collective decisions of the party prevailed over individual interests at the end of the day. He explained that PDP would adopt what obtained in previous presidential primaries, where those that did not agree with decisions on zoning were allowed to contest; but at the end of the day, the party had its way.

    The zoning committee headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, had recommended that the presidential flag bearer of the PDP should emerge from the North and the national chairman from the South; a decision that was upheld at the party’s convention. Makarfi said the decision had not changed, and the party was expecting all its members to abide by it.

    “That is the party’s position. Anything to do with the party, it is from the party leadership you will hear it, not from any other person; and that is why I am reaffirming that the position on zoning has not changed. It was the decision of the Port Harcourt convention held last May reiterated at our last convention and the decision of the convention is supreme,” he had explained.

    Makarfi said the PDP believes in freedom of expression. “Let me also remind you that when the presidency was zoned to the South in 1999, some people from the North contested and went against it in their own right; but the party went with the decision it took. So it is not for an individual to make a case whether to abide by the decision of the party or to go against what the party says, at the end of the day, it is the position the party takes that will prevail,” he said.

    A couple of weeks ago, the Southeast zone of the PDP endorsed the party’s zoning arrangement, which has zoned the office of president to the North.  Rising from a meeting of a zonal executive committee of the party, held in Enugu, the leaders reiterated their commitment to national unity and also reaffirmed the party’s earlier agreement on zoning of positions within the party.

    The meeting was attended by Governors of Enugu (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi), Abia (Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu) and Ebonyi (David Umahi, represented by his deputy); Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, PDP (South East) Vice Chairman, Chief Austin Umahi, members of the National Assembly from the zone; the party’s former Caretaker Committee National Secretary, Senator Ben Obi, Speakers of Houses of Assembly and other principal officers.

    Buhari and the 2019 race

    Meanwhile, The Nation learnt that within the hierarchy of the ruling party and government, the popular opinion is that should Buhari decide to seek re-election; he should be supported to get the ticket. Party sources told our correspondent that many of the leading chieftains of the party strongly believe that with Buhari as its presidential candidate again, the APC will find it easier defeating the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019.

    “From the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to some other prominent leaders across the country, Buhari, irrespective of some challenges confronting his choice, still remains the best man to push forward as presidential candidate in 2019. You can see how Oyegun has turned himself to a campaigner for the President even before Buhari signifies interest to run,” another source said.

    Oyegun recently gave reasons why President Buhari would run for a second term in 2019, claiming majority of Nigerians were happy with his leadership and wanted him to return in 2019. He insisted the President was God-sent to Nigeria and should be given enough time and support by all and sundry to finish the assignment he is sent to deliver to the Nigerian people.

    “At the time he took over, there was no kobo anywhere in the treasury. The price of crude oil collapsed and that is why we are experiencing hardship today. But the good news is that for the first time, this country is building an economic base that is based on the sweat of Nigerians. We will never again suffer from the collapse of crude oil. Today agriculture is booming, today we are self- sufficient in the production of agro- products.

    “We took over a totally collapsed country. But today, things have started to solidify. Our economy is growing and Nigeria will never experience that type of recession we witnessed. Let me emphasise that the change mantra is not electricity, it is not water, but changing our morals, doing what is right, changing our attitude, a system that rewards competence and productivity. So, we must change those bad aspects of our lives so that we will enjoy the Nigeria that we all crave for.”

    Similarly, Shittu gave no indication that the president opposed his call for early re-election campaigns. Instead, he said, the president’s ardent supporters would prevail on him to run again. “I know he has not made up his mind but I can say that some of us can assist him in making up his mind so that Nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress in our land,” he said.

    He added that there was no need to ask if the president would re-contest because he has done well in providing relief to Nigerians in all aspects. “It goes without saying. I mean, if you have a child who goes to primary school and does well, proceeds to secondary school does well, and you keep asking is he going to university? By the grace of God, we his ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians would urge him to re-contest,” the minister added.

    Adding his voice to the pro-Buhari agitation is Buba Marwa, former Military Administrator of Lagos State and a chieftain of the APC, who said from political calculations, there is no other chieftain of the party that is more formidable than Buhari for the upcoming election. He added that with Buhari, APC’s victory in 2019 will be a huge landslide. He believes the APC will not change its winning candidate.

    “With the president, the party’s victory in 2019 will be a huge landslide. In 2015, Buhari defeated a sitting president. In 2019, tell me, who will he be facing? His victory is a foregone conclusion. Other parties should be strategising towards 2023 because 2019 would be a no contest. That is the reality. We are praying for his good health. In the business of running for the presidency, you must do some calculations. It is not a theoretical thing that you just look at somebody’s face, you like the face and say that he is going to win.

    “Look at the performance, look at the votes that came out of Kano and what is possible and compare Kano votes, for instance, to the Southeast votes. By the time you remove Imo State that is APC, total the votes for the rest of the states in the southeast and Kano. That is one. Then, look at the votes of the northwest; the entire northwest votes, actually, are more than Southsouth and Southeast.

    “Obviously, an unpopular candidate from the North can be beaten. But when you have somebody like President Buhari taking full advantage of the Northwest, add that to the Northeast, it is almost double of the votes from the Southsouth and the Southeast. In essence, the total registered voters of Southsouth and Southwest combined is equivalent to Northwest alone – each with about 17.6m voters.

    “Assuming those cancel out in 2019, compare to 2015 results, the Southwest, an APC zone, breaks the equilibrium with nearly 14 million voters. Then comes the Northeast zone, with nine million voters and four APC governors out of six. And we still have Northcentral also with nine million voters and all six APC governors. And as a bonus, you look at the Northcentral and the Southwest, Lagos, for instance, which is an APC stronghold and not even to mention the other Southwest states,” Marwa said.

    APC’s ‘reserves’

    However, the rank of the ruling party is not totally devoid of some alternative permutations in spite of the wide appeal believed to be enjoyed by President Buhari ahead of the 2019 presidential election. The Nation gathered that within the party, there are whispers of some possible replacements should the President decide not to run in 2019 for whatsoever reason.

    “We all know that a year, and even a week, is a long time in politics. While you may be right to say should Buhari decide to run, he will get the APC ticket ahead of any other contender, you may not be totally right to say Buhari will run. What if he decides not to run? Will the party be left without a replacement? That for now remains a possibility and I think it is not out of place for some people to be working on that,” our source said.

    Amongst those believed to be eyeing the party’s ticket should the President fail to enter for the contest is Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State. A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he is one of those believed to be quite close to Buhari. Though in his first term as Governor, some associates said he will not mind seeking the presidential ticket of the APC instead of running for re-election in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai, who has been consistent in denying any attempt to drag the APC ticket with Buhari recently confirmed that he is being considered in some quarters as a possible presidential candidate of the ruling party when he said, “my name has continuously been mentioned as a presidential aspirant s‎ince 2007 after my years in the FCT, there is nothing new about that.

    “What I want to say here very, very clearly is that I have never been a Presidential aspirant, I have never even been a gubernatorial aspirant. I am governor today by the grace of God because President Buhari called me and said go and run for Governor of Kaduna State. As far as 2019 is concerned, my position is the President (Buhari) is looking very well, he is recuperating very fast. My hope and prayer is he will contest in 2019,” he said.

    Also being touted as a possible contender is the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal. A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, he is also a first term governor entitled to seeking another term. But not a few people within and outside the party have been talking about his interest in the presidency. His political profile as well as the fact that he was one of those tipped to grab the party’s ticket in 2015 make him a possible aspirant for the job.

    So strong is Tambuwal’s possibility in the 2019 presidential race that it was even recently rumoured that he may be in talks with some PDP leaders ahead of a possible defection from the ruling party to the opposition in pursuit of his ambition. And despite repeated denials from his camp, the rumour refused to die off. His recent visit to a PDP governor revived talks of his dalliance with the opposition party.

    Speaking to The Nation during the week, a close aide of the Governor said Tambuwal will not dump the APC for any reason as he is a trusted associate of the President. “As a loyal party man, he has no reason to dump the APC,” he explained. He however gave indications that the Sokoto Governor may be interested in Buhari’s job when he said, “you also said if Buhari is not running. So what stops Tambuwal from contesting in that case? He has what it takes to be President.”

    Senate President Bukola Saraki is another man said to be watching the unfolding events within and outside the ruling party ahead of the 2019 presidential election. Though he has not hinted his interest to seek Buhari’s job, his name is always on the front burner whenever the topic is the next presidential election. Perhaps due to his political weight and spread, the former Kwara State Governor is seen as someone who will seek the APC ticket in Buhari’s absence from the race.

    “It is not likely Bukola will want to remain Senate President under another President aside Buhari in 2019. He has always wanted to contest the presidency and he is still interested in the job. But he will work with the party anyway,” an aide said on request of anonymity. In Kwara, his home state, a couple of pressure groups have emerged, urging him to seek the presidency in 2019.

    There are also talks about Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, who some analysts say is about the most popular northern politician after Buhari. “If Buhari is not in the race, most northerners will prefer Kwankwaso. Don’t also forget he came second in 2015 APC presidential primary election. So, he remains a frontline candidate for the job any day,” a source said.

    PDP’s quest and the calculations

    Outside the ruling APC, especially within the opposition PDP, some politicians of northern extraction are being buoyed to throw their hats into the ring for the 2019 presidential contest by the unambiguous opposition of some prominent northern elites to Buhari’s stay in office beyond 2019. These PDP chieftains are hoping to contest the election as the candidate of the PDP and defeat Buhari if he runs.

    Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, while reacting to emerging indications that Buhari may seek re-election, said he sees no reason why the President should be given a second term in office. According to him, he is yet to see how the current administration has bettered the lives of the average Nigerian. He then warned those talking about 2019 that elections are not won on the pages of newspapers.

    “I have not seen evidence as a Nigerian, who goes to the market that the life of the average Nigerian is getting better. As far as I am concerned, I have not seen rational evidence to the effect that somebody has achieved and therefore, deserves to be repaid with another term. They are making noise as if 2019 is achievable on the pages of newspapers. Sometimes people vote in Nigeria because of primordial sentiment and geopolitics,” he said.

    Junaid is not alone in his opposition to Buhari’s re-election. Other northern political elites including Hameed Ibrahim Ali, Yahaya Sule Haman and even Buba Galadinma, an erstwhile ally of the President, have on several occasions spoken out against another term for Buhari. “These people and others are among those encouraging the opposition to come forward with alternative candidates to Buhari in 2019,” a source said.

    Beyond the issues of performance and health considerations, which are being used to oppose the re-election of Buhari, there are also talks about the need for the north to seek the possibility of elongating its hold on the presidency beyond eight years by pushing forward a fresh candidate into office in 2019 instead of backing Buhari who cannot stay beyond eight years in office.

    “The argument is that with Buhari, the north cannot exceed 2023 in the presidency. But if we succeed in bringing a new person into office in 2019, such a person can seek re-election in 2023 just the same way Jonathan did in 2015. He will be constitutionally qualified and the north can that way spend twelve years instead of eight years in the presidency.

    “That will help us to bridge the gap in the number of years spent in power since 1999 between the north and the south. The south has spent fourteen years in power while the north has spent just five years. So, a lot of calculations are going on beyond just supporting a northerner to emerge as president in 2019. As a people, we are looking at what is best for us,” a source said.

    Our source, a PDP chieftain, was quick to add that the above argument is one of the issues the PDP will raise when electioneering starts fully. The north must take its own opportunity. This is a game of power. If dumping Buhari now will give us a chance to stay longer at the helms of affairs, then it is expedient that we look beyond party affiliation and do just what is good for us,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the PDP is not in short supply of northerners who are said to be angling to grab the party’s ticket and go ahead to give the APC a run for its money in the 2019 presidential election. And following the successful conclusion of its much talked about elective congress last December, the leading opposition party appears to be shifting its attention to who flies its flag in 2019.

    Shortly before the December convention, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had joined the PDP from the ruling APC in pursuit of his presidential ambition. The belief in many quarters back then was that the former APC presidential aspirant had been assured of automatically clinching the PDP presidential ticket for him to dump the ruling APC. But events after he jumped ship reveals the contrary.

    Today, though Atiku’s political camp is still active and strategising ahead 2019, the enthusiasm with which he moved into the PDP is no more following remarks by leading chieftains of his new party that he cannot have the ticket for the asking. But sources close to Atiku says he is not deterred in his quest to get the presidential ticket of the PDP. “Atiku joined the PDP to contest the presidency and that he will do,” an associate told The Nation.

    Atiku served as the vice president from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the PDP under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The former vice president left PDP to join the APC on February 2, 2014 and attempted to be its presidential flag-bearer. If he runs in 2019, it would be his fourth attempt as he had contested for the presidency earlier in 1992, 2006 and 2011.

    Similarly, the camp of former Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is agog with activities aimed at propagating his aspiration to contest the presidency on the platform of the PDP. Confirming his aspiration recently to The Nation, his spokesperson, Malam Sule Ya’u Sule, said Shekarau, a former Governor of Kano State, sent notification letters to the PDP and all relevant stakeholders last year.

    He added that his principal is committed to helping Nigeria and Nigerians overcome the many problems confronting the country in recent times. He said soon after the 2015 general elections, there had been various calls on Shekarau by individuals and groups from many quarters urging him to contest for the presidency in 2019. He added that the former Kano State governor has been consulting since and decided to heed the call and contest the presidential election in 2019 on the platform of the opposition PDP.

    The Nation learnt that those pushing Shekarau’s candidature are banking on his popularity in Kano State to see him defeat Buhari should the APC field the President again in 2019. Shekarau, like Buhari, enjoys a cult followership among the masses in the northwestern state. He rode on the strength of this acceptability to defeat the incumbent in 2003 and win re-election in 2007 as governor of the state.

    “If the PDP is serious about defeating Buhari and the APC in 2019, Shekarau is the man to push forward. Many of those plotting ahead of the 2019 election are not being realistic. Our leaders in PDP must put sentiments aside and base their decision on the reality on ground. Shekarau may not be close to them, but we are talking about defeating Buhari, the man who can do that today in the north is Shakarau,” a source added.

    The PDP also boasts of another ex-governor, Sule Lamido, as a presidential aspirant on its platform. The former Jigawa State helmsman last October wrote the leadership of his party signifying his interest in its presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 general election.

    “I am no means claiming to be the only capable material, any PDP member given the trust and support can fly our flag, and I expect many more aspirants will express the desire to run. My hope and prayer is that at the end of all the process which I hope will be open, fair transparent and credible is to give Nigeria in 2019 candidate who will lead the party and Nigeria. This is because there is no alternative to PDP in 2019, it will be a defining moment in the Nigerian political evolution,” Lamido said in the letter.

    However, within the same PDP, a powerful group within the party are said to have resolved that the immediate past Chairman of its National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, should get the presidential ticket. Party sources said the group has embarked on subtle campaign for the former Kaduna State governor ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The Nation gathered that Makarfi enjoys the support of a good number of PDP governors, the National Working Committee (NWC) as well as state chairmen of the party and may find it easier emerging as the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2019. It was also gathered that the decision to have Makarfi as the presidential candidate of the party may have been taken long before the December convention.

    “Makarfi is the choice of the current controllers of PDP. These are the PDP governors. He worked closely with them to get PDP out of leadership crisis that nearly crippled it. He was in agreement with them ahead of the December convention and he allowed them have their ways. They trust him and they are willing to push him forward in 2019 as the man to confront the candidate of the APC.

    “Apart from being in the good book of the Governors, many people in the party see Makarfi as a better candidate than other contenders because he is not known to have any scandal hanging on his neck. Many of the others have EFCC cases and other controversies trailing them. PDP cannot afford to play into the hands of the ruling party so the need for a clean candidate,” a party leader said.

     

  • 2019: Why the North?

    SIR: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded its long-awaited national convention. The main takeaway from the gathering is the zoning of its presidential candidate for the 2019 elections to Northern Nigeria. But they may not be alone. The fiercest narrative that has continued to greet expressions of interest to vie for president under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) is that power must remain in the North past 2019.

    So, why specifically the North at this critical stage of national development where the nation is facing serious crises in all fronts?

    The cursory history below is cue.

    By May 2019, the North might have occupied the seat of power for about 42 out of 59 years of independence. Of the three northern political zones, the North-west would have been in power for roughly 18 years; 11 democratic, and seven years under military rule. The North-east already had about six years of democratic governance in the First Republic; while the North-central accounted for solid 18 years, all military. Yet, despite unfettered allocation of federal funds to the northern region, its huge natural and human resources remain grossly untapped. It is not surprising, therefore, that the image of the poor human condition in the North is the convex lens through which the history of bad leadership in Nigeria is seen worldwide.

    Similarly, the southern Nigeria has held power for about 17 years. The Southwest zone was at the helm for 12 years; eight years of democratic power, and four years of military and quasi-military dictatorships. The South-south follows with five years, all democratic leadership; while the South-east accounted for six months through military authority. Unfortunately, however, the condition of vital federal projects in the South, including roads and airports, remain an eyesore. Needless to mention that the region is well known for high crime rates home and abroad.

    Ultimately, politicians from both the north and south are guilty of bad leadership in Nigeria. We must admit, therefore, that the distrust in the polity is deeply rooted in the past, where each ethnic group or region patently shares blame. But if zoning must prevail at this critical time, common sense dictates that the law of equity would equally demand that the position of the president be allocated to the region or the zones thus far marginalized in the presidential equation.

    Make no mistake about it; the main problem is not the fault of the current national government. Instead, it is a culmination of acute leadership failures inherited from the past PDP regimes that squandered the nation’s golden opportunities. For example, despite unprecedented revenue generated from crude oil from 1999 to 2014, abject corruption, rather than the dividend of the hard-earned democracy, was the order of the day.

    As can be recalled, that very situation prompted many patriots, including this writer—to sacrifice our individual political and business interests—to promote any candidate who could stem the tide of bad governance bedevilling the country at the time. We did not care about ethnicity, religion or creed. We did not care that the South-south, the very life zone of the nation, which at the time had a sitting president in Goodluck Jonathan, had not exhausted its eight years in Aso Villa. All we sought was a Nigerian, simply a Nigerian, with a history of fighting corruption. Muhammadu Buhari was that man.

    The world is definitely watching, believing that Nigeria can do much better. It is not a secret that her citizens, including the youth, are leading lights worldwide in all-important areas of human civilization from medicine, education, engineering, law enforcement, and what have you. Yet, the same Nigerian professionals cannot replicate similar standards at home because of all manners of discrimination, including uneven zoning and quota. That trend must change. The posterity beckons on us to capitalize on our rich diversity and find common grounds where ideas could converge for practical solutions instead of amplifying the echoes of a lifelong pattern of tribal or regional rivalries.

     

    • SKC Ogbonnia,

    Abuja.

  • PDP North’s state chairmen reject micro-zoning to Southwest

    PDP North’s state chairmen reject micro-zoning to Southwest

    PDP chairmen in northern states have urged delegates to the convention to ignore a directive to vote only aspirants from the South-West for the National Chairmanship position.

    A group of elders from the northern zone last week in Abuja resolved to encourage northern delegates to the convention to vote a candidate from the south-west to emerge as the next party boss.

    But PDP Chairmen in the 19 northern states and the FCT, who reviewed the elders’ stance at a meeting in Abuja, dissociated themselves from the directive which they said was “undemocratic”.

    Mr Hassan Hyat, Chairman, Forum of PDP State Chairmen in the North, who read their communique, said it was not right to sub-zone the seat to any particular zone.

    “The position cannot be sub-zoned to a particular zone in the south because that will disenfranchise other contestants. We, as state chairmen, cannot be party to any micro-zoning.

    “The party’s decision at the Port Harcourt Convention is final and binding on all. No one has the right to change or tamper with it,” Hyat declared.

    Recalling the declaration at the Port Harcourt Convention last year, Hyat said that the seat was zoned to all parts of the south and stressed the need to allow all zones in the south to present their candidates.

    “We stand by that position and have resolved to reject any sub-zoning to a particular area,” the Forum declared.

    The Forum further declared that zoning was a cardinal principle of the PDP and should “never be toyed with”.

    It urged delegates to assess candidates on merit and vote as directed by their conscience.

    The party chiefs advised the contestants to be “temperate and civil” in the use of language and avoid actions or statements that could create sharp division within the family.

    “The party’s interest should be the principal guiding spirit. No other personal or group’s interest should be placed over it,” the group declared.

    It urged members seeking positions to “understand that power comes from God” and be prepared to accept whoever God ordained to lead the PDP.

    The group commended the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP for strengthening the party after its protracted crises, and expressed happiness that the PDP was growing stronger “every minute”.

  • Widow wins Idemili North’s by-election

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mrs Nkoli Mmegbuaneze, has won the by-election in Idemili North Constituency of Anambra State in Saturday’s poll.

    The constituency’s Returning Officer, Prof. James Epoke, of University of Calabar (UNICAL), announced the result yesterday at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area.

    Epoke said Mrs Mmegbuanaeze polled 11,526, while Tony Muonagor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had 5,677; Nnebunwa Ude of the United Progressive Party (UPP) scored 2,940 and Charles Udezue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 2,758.

    Nkoli replaced her husband, Mr Francis Mmegbuanaeze, who died on August 16.

    The Nigeria Police High Command has lauded the conduct of its officers and men involved the conduct of November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations) in Abuja, Mr Habila Joshak, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    Joshak, who headed police operations during the November 18 governorship election, said the officers and men who participated in the election exhibited exemplary conduct.

    He said: “We are happy to say that none of our officers and men who took part in the provision of security during November 18 governorship election in Anambra State was linked to any misconduct.”

  • Senate blocks future inclusion of Kano, Plateau in NEDC

    Senate blocks future inclusion of Kano, Plateau in NEDC

    Spirited efforts to pave the way for the future inclusion of Kano and Plateau States as part of beneficiaries of the newly created North East Development Commission (NEDC) failed on Wednesday in the Senate.

    This is coming as the upper chamber sought adequate financial provision for NEDC in 2018 budget

    A Bill seeking the establishment of a commission to spearhead the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of peoples and infrastructure affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States were assented to last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Although the Senate had included Kano and Plateau States as part of States to be covered by the commission when set up the inclusion of the two states was later expunged at the conference level between the Senate committee and that of House of Representatives.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) in an attempt for the inclusion of the two states during future amendment of the NEDC Act, sought the approval of the Senate to pave the way for inclusion of the two States in any future amendments of the Act.

    Barau’s prayer seconded by Senator Jeremiah Useni (Plateau South) read: ” Whenever in future the NEDC Act is amended, Kano and Plateau states should be included “

    When Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu put the prayer to a voice vote, the senators overwhelmingly voted against it.

    Ekweremadu repeated the voice vote. The result was a resounding nay as the lawmakers stood their ground against any future inclusion of the two states as part of NEDC states.

    A motion on assent to the bill sponsored by Senator Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central) and 15 others some senators asked for a similar commission for the development of their zones.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South) who commended President Buhari and the National Assembly for the NEDC Act urged the Senate to do likewise for the South East Development Commission Bill which according to him, has passed second reading.

    The manager noted that all the federal roads in the South East have collapsed aside disasters already inflicted in a substantial part of the area by gully erosion.

    He said that the situation needed urgent intervention from the centre in the mode of a development commission.

    He said: “We all supported the now signed NEDC Act when presented to us as a bill because of the need for it and in that light, I appealed to this Senate to give similar support to the South Development Commission Bill that is already before us and even passed second reading.

    “Am making this appeal because it’s been long when the said bill was passed for second reading without us hearing anything about it again. Please where ever the bill may be and whatever may be happening to it, let in the interest of fairness to all Nigerians bring it forward for the needed consideration and support.”

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) in his contribution said a bill for similar commission for the same purpose covering Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina may soon be tabled before the Senate for consideration

    He lamented that not less than 5,000 people have lost their lives to violence being inflicted on the states by groups similar to Boko Haram like cattle rustlers and others within the last two years aside property and farms worth billions of Naira destroyed.

    Marafa said, “The blood thirty groups killed people in these States on daily basis and even recently attacked a military formation in Zamfara killing four soldiers. I support this motion commending Mr President for assenting to the NEDC Act and congratulates my colleagues from the North East zone on the commission but the Senate should not be surprised if a similar bill seeking for such development commission to cover the mentioned States is brought for consideration.

    “Those of us from the affected States have been keeping quiet but the rate at which violent attacks from the groups are causing severe destruction in  the states, a bill for a commission like this   may be brought for consideration and support of all.”

    Meanwhile, the Senate has asked the Federal Government to make adequate financial provision in the 2018 budget for the take-off of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

     The upper chamber also affirmed its commitment to the implementation of the NEDC Act following the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari on 26th October 2017, to the NEDC Bill as passed by the National Assembly.

    The lawmakers noted that signing of the Bill into law marks the establishment and take-off of the North-East Development Commission.

    Commenting on a motion raised at the plenary in the Senate, Wednesday, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the signing into law of the NEDC Bill “marks a significant development in our country’s humanitarian and development response to the crisis in the North-East region.”

    Through the establishment of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), resources from the Federal Government and international donors will be coordinated and disbursed to meet the relief, recovery and developmental needs for a region in desperate need of stability.

    The President of the Senate decried the devastating impact of the conflict on the public infrastructure and on the lives of millions of Nigerians in the North-East. “According to the Borno State Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, in Borno State alone, over 950,000 houses, approximately 660 municipal buildings, and around 700 power distribution stations were destroyed during the insurgency.” Another “over 5,000 schools, 200 health facilities and 1,600 water supply sources were also razed.

    “With such dire statistics, it is vital for the NEDC to coordinate the planning of federal and state authorities to begin the work of transitioning from humanitarian response to recovery activities. These programmes must also include support to revive the livelihoods of the local populations.”

    The President of the Senate expressed confidence that standing up for the NEDC will go a long way towards augmenting civilian-military relations. “The military has greatly improved the security situation in the region and has created an enabling environment for stability and growing rehabilitation,” he said.

    “We must all keep in mind that the creation of funding of the NEDC alone will not resolve all of the issues in the North-East. However, it must build and represent a better level of governance than what existed before.”

    He thanked the Senators from the North-East states who sponsored the motion, saying: “They honourably represent the thousands of communities and millions of people whose properties have been destroyed and whose lives have been disrupted” as a result of the crisis. “We can never forget the terrible price these Nigerians have paid just to live in their homeland.”

    Affirming commitment to defend, protect and rehabilitate all territory and people within Nigeria’s national borders, the Senate also called on Donor Agencies’ to continue their support for the North-East through the newly established Commission.

  • Restructuring: North says region can sustain self

    Restructuring: North says region can sustain self

    Against the backdrop of insinuations that the North is cold to restructuring because it profits from the current structure, leaders of the region have said it can actually sustain itself, ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports from Kaduna

    Some have insinuated that the North feeds fat on the country to which it contributes pretty little.

    Not so, replied stakeholders from the region who gathered last week in Kaduna. Rather than a parasite, the region is actually the greatest contributor to the Nigerian Project, they declared at a conference.

    Speakers at the event organised by Arewa Research and Development Project in collaboration with other northern organisations said Northern Nigeria has all it takes to sustain itself.

    The convener of the two-day conference tagged: “The North and future of Nigerian federation”, Dr. Usman Bugaje, in his opening address, said the conference was conceived not only as a response to the demand for a review of the nature and structure of the Nigerian federation but also as an internal self-evaluation of the North as a major component of the Nigerian federation.

    He said, “Many will agree that it is important to respond to demands driven by a discontent, whether genuine or otherwise, but even more important is the need to interrogate ourselves, precisely the abdication of the North from its traditional role of being the stabilising factor for this country”.

    It was against this background that the chairman of the occasion and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal said, “The idea that the North is against restructuring because it benefits most from the current state of things is circumscribed and patently false.”

    Governor Tambuwal who is also the chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum’s committee on restructuring said, “The fact that some people continue to parrot such a lie only helps to give credence to the flawed argument.

    “Let us be clear: the North wants restructuring as much as anyone else. However, as a people we do not easily jump onto the bandwagon because we are always there for the long haul. We believe that any decision we take must be inclusive, and respect procedures and processes so that the outcome is sustainable.

    “I think we should first, as a country, agree on a mutual definition of the term restructuring. In my view, if restructuring means taking stock of our arrangement to ensure that no state takes a disproportionate amount of the resources, or most of the available space in the education or job sector, or subjugate the others’ culture or religion, or lords it over the other so that the number of the poor and uneducated whose future is circumscribed by their circumstance is shared proportionately, then we are game.

    “We all want a country where there is peace and progress, where justice is given, where all lives are safe and people can pursue their legitimate livelihoods wherever they choose. I believe each state in this country has areas of comparative advantage and life is a cycle so that what was once the largest revenue earner can in time become less so while something else takes ascendancy. As a country, we must look to the future and agree on what in the long run will benefit us all.”

    Former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and spokesman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi was a bit unrestrained, saying the North was not afraid to go its separate way if the entire country insisted on restructuring.

    He said, “The North has always sacrificed for the unity of Nigeria. I was a student when we got independence and we saw that each time there was need to unite Nigeria, the North made the largest sacrifice.

    “Now we have 36 states from three regions which existed in 1960. No country has had constitutional conference like Nigeria, yet it has not created the basis for a united country. If we want to restructure  Nigeria, we have to start from the beginning, 1914, North and South, let’s go our separate ways”.

    He said that such clamouring is not new because it has always been an antecedent of the South whenever a Northerner was in in charge of leadership.

    Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar backed restructuring saying that power and resources should shift to the states as part of restructuring.

    Abubakar, represented by Dr. Awwalu Anwar, said, “My idea of restructuring is devolution of power to the states with the resources. The Federal Government should only be bothered about the economy while the states should be left to provide education, security and build roads.

    “To me if the state is given the responsibility of providing security, state police will better secure their areas because they will be familiar with the nature and peculiarity of their security challenges.

    “In the whole of this the North has nothing to fear because we have the land, we have the population and we have the resources. North has nothing to fear because oil will soon become history.”

    For the northern chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as well as Jamaatul Nasir Islam (JNI), the country is better together than being restructured. While Jam’iyar Matan Arewa said even if the country is restructured to family units, there will still be problem of leadership.

    Jam’iyar Matan Arewa (Northern Women Assembly) represented by Ambassador Marina Mohammed, said, “Nigeria cannot afford to be divided because our strength in the comity nations is our number. So, rather than restructuring the country, we should focus on the real problem, and the real problem is the failure of leadership, and not our structure.

    “Even if we break up to family units what is more paramount is for the leaders of such units to do the right thing. The reason why youths are agitating is because the leaders have failed. You cannot pocket money meant for development of your state and expect things to go the right way.

    “Even in our places of worship, our imams and pastors cannot pocket money meant for entire congregations, flying private jets, establishing private schools that members of their congregations cannot afford to send their children and expect things to go right,” she lamented.

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern States’ chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam represented by Air Commodore Tanko Ato (Retd), said, “North can stand for the unit of the region and the nation as a whole.

    “Our position on the restructuring debate is that Nigeria is better and firmer together. To us it does not matter whether we restructure or not, what matters to us is the united North and Nigeria where we respect each other’s faith and freedom of worship.”

    Toeing same line, Jamaatul Nasir Islam (JNI) represented by Bashir Dahiru Bauchi, said, “The North has always contributed to the Nigerian project even before the coming of the colonial masters. So the region should see itself as a big brother.

    “We are better as the united Nigeria than going our separate ways. Nigeria is held in high esteem in the world politics, but it will be devoured by the world powers if broken into pieces”.

    The Nation observed that if the region will walk its and adopt recommendations from the various speakers and paper presenters at the conference, the North may be charting a new course for its advancement and overall development of Nigeria.

    The conference convener, Dr. Usman Bugaje said, “The raging debate about the future of our federation is only a fraction of the problem. We must see it as the first and necessary step that will help us prepare for our future. It is therefore important that we bring a lot objectivity and maturity. Mere display of emotions is not going to be useful here. We need to think through whatever proposal we make. We should also realize that we can’t force any view on anybody in this day and age. We must seek to persuade rather than dictate.”