From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Northern Elders have stated that it is only synergy that would help in the fight against insecurity that is presently bedeviling the country, especially in the Northern parts.
They made the call at a two-day roundtable meeting organized by the Coalitions of Northern Groups, CNG, with the theme: “Insecurity In Northern Nigeria” yesterday in Abuja.
One of the elders and former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Attahiru Jega said the major issue threatening peace in Nigeria is politics.
He emphasized on the need to adopt non-kenatic approach in the fight against banditry and terrorism which is frustrating development, especially in the northern region.
Jega who stressed that there must be synergy between security agencies and the citizens added that the north have all the human resources to eliminate the present situation.
“In our choice of leadership, we must learn to choose people of integrity to help in the fight against insecurity and there must be synergy even between the security agencies if this fight must be won” he added.
In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who said the north must put politics aside to address the present challenges added that peace must be restored in the north even if it meant taking the most difficult decisions.
“We must find peace for the northerners even if it meant taking difficult decisions. The solution is not our problem, what we lack is implementation” the sultan emphasized.
“We must put politics aside to address the present challenges in the country, especially northern Nigeria.
It is time to revive our economy by focusing on agriculture which is what we were known for” he added.
Also, the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Audu Ogbeh lamented that the only striving industry in the north is politics.
Ogbeh stated that the present economy is the strongest trigger of insecurity in the north, adding that if nothing is done to revive the economy, Nigerians should expect more.
Meanwhile, former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was also the chairman of the occasion appreciated the group for organising the event which he said, is one of its kind.
The spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman expressed optimism that this initiative would serve as a crucial platform for achieving the long-awaited peace in the North.