NORTHERN ELDERS UNIFIED TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING THE REGION

By Gambo Abubakar Kaduna 

 In a special meeting of Elders and top level leaders from all parts of the Northern Nigeria have all agreed to unified themselves in one umbrella in tackling the issues of ever increasing of insecurity, sky rocketing cost of living, destitution, unemployment and other calamities plaguing the region in particular and Nigeria in general.

 The Northern Elders resolutions was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of board of trustees general meeting of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), delivered by the forum National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, at the ACF Headquarter in Kaduna.

   The BOT meeting was presided over by, Alhaji Bashir Muhammed Tsalhatu, Wazirin Dutse ACF  Chairman, also in attendance are the former state governors of the northern states, ministers, service chiefs, members of the National Assembly, retired senior public officers, academics, professionals and multitudes of patriotic citizens. 

  According to the communique, the meeting was called in response to the lingering challenges, after  an extensive deliberations on these issues be dwelling the region, they have resolved that.

 "Strengthen the ACF and                                    resolved to remain united and continue to speak with one voice on all key issues of concerning to the Northern Nigeria." 

  "And members have also pledged to revitalise and strengthen the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, so that it remains a strong and effective organisation that advocates and defends the region interests; in all their ramifications."

  The communique however noted that, the meeting resolved that Northerners should do more to build trust and affection between and amongst themselves.

   And also resolved that, Northerners belonging to different tribes or religious groups are enjoined to completely refrain from calling each other derogatory or offensive names, such as 'arne', 'mushirkin', etc.

  The communiqué also noted that, on security of lives and properties all

members agreed that at the moment, there is nothing troubling Northern Nigeria more than the lack of security of lives and property. The North today is ravaged by elevated forms of banditry, Boko Haram and other insurgencies. 

 The menace of drug trafficking and abuse is steadily rising. And food production is becoming increasingly difficult as farmlands are abandoned and the farmers are getting either killed or fleeing to the IDP camps.

 "There does not appear to be an end on sight to these crisis as the mitigation measures taken by the authorities have so far failed to yield the desired results."

   The BOT meeting further explained that, "Under the circumstances, the meeting resolved to make the following recommendations:"

 Whatever it takes, the security crisis in Northern Nigeria must end; and end quickly. Our survival depends on it!《b》The current approaches to fighting the insurgents and bandits are not yielding the desired results. Other measures, even unconventional ones, need to be considered and tried.

 Nigeria is indeed facing a moral crisis for failing to protect its citizens who cannot bear arms but are left at the mercy of well armed, cruel and blood thirsty renegades and barbarians that continue to have free access to deadly arms.

 Community driven models of defence, such as the Civilian JTF, are already in operation in several parts of the country, including in the Boko-Haram-ravaged Northeast of Nigeria. Similar or modified models of security management should be authorised in other parts of the country. 

  The communiqué also lamented that, "Cost of Living Crisis

Unprecedented Cost of living crisis is driven by severe food shortages  and especially the continuously rising prices of electricity and fuel energy. 

  "These problems have compounded the challenges of insecurity and violent crimes. Government must do all within its powers to mitigate the impact of these."

  The meeting further identified Corruption & Bad Governance at all levels to be the key driver of bad governance in Nigeria. 

  It also agreed that bad governance is the root cause of most of the social and economic crisis plaguing the country; including distortion of moral values; nepotism, injustice, misplacement of priorities.

  'It therefore called on the authorities to wage an all-out war against corruption without further delay." 

 The communiqué also revealed that, a Constitution Review & Restructuring, After reviewed current agitations and calls for a review of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution as well as the restructuring of the administrative structure of Nigeria.

  Earlier in his addressed the Chairman Arewa Consultative forum ACF, ALHAJI Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu,Wazirin Dutse, appreciated  everyone for responds of the invitation to attend the important meeting.

  He however said that, the meeting is not designed to be an avenue to apportion blames or point fingers at any individual or group of individuals for the problems of the North.