Kaduna: Sani urges northern leaders to unite against insecurity

We are with you 100 percent, Sultan tells Northern governors

____________________

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, on Monday, welcomed the Northern States Governors and Chairmen of Northern States Traditional Rulers Council, emphasising the need for unity in tackling the region’s security challenges.

In his welcome address, Sani praised forum chairman Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State for his stewardship, and commended fellow governors for their dedication to their people. He also expressed respect for traditional rulers, acknowledging their wisdom and stabilising role.

Sani observed that, despite progress, the region faces the troubling politicisation of insecurity, with opposition actors amplifying fear and eroding public trust. “We must resist this behaviour and work together to address the security situation,” Sani said. “We have a President who understands the North, values the North, and consistently demonstrates respect for our perspectives.”

Sani reiterated the need for state police, citing Nigeria’s centralised model as inadequate for a nation of 230 million and vast ungoverned spaces. He urged leaders to speak frankly, examine bold ideas, and reflect visionary Northern leadership, adding, “Our people expect no less, and history will remember the choices we make in moments like this.”

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged governors to “double their efforts” and work in unity to confront worsening socioeconomic and security challenges. “As leaders, we need to really tell ourselves the truth,” he said. “But I want to assure you, we are 100 percent with you in this drive to make the North a better place because we don’t have any other place to be.”

The Sultan said the North was at a critical moment requiring sincerity, collaboration, and unwavering commitment by its leaders. He added that the meeting offered an opportunity for honest deliberation on threats to the North’s stability and Nigeria’s unity, urging political leaders to be honest with themselves and their citizens.