•Governor Sani urges Northern leaders to unite against insecurity

•We’re with you 100 percent, Sultan assures

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Insecurity, climate change and the growing Almajiri and out-of-school children’s crisis dominated discussions as northern governors and traditional rulers opened a crucial joint meeting in Kaduna, yesterday.

In a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council,  Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who chairs the Northern Governors’ Forum, warned that the region was confronted with the grim reality of insecurity and poverty that seeks to undermine the region’s existence.

The governor charged his colleagues, traditional rulers and other leaders in the north to act fast to free the region from the vices. “Future generations will remember us not by the number of projects we commissioned, but by whether we bequeathed to them a Northern Nigeria they can truly call home.”

The two‑day summit held at the Kaduna State Government House, brought together 19 governors, dozens of traditional rulers, security chiefs and civil‑society representatives to chart a common response to a security crisis that, according to Yahaya, has “escalated from a localised challenge to a national and existential threat.”

Governor Yahaya began by extending condolences to the families of the schoolchildren abducted in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Niger and Sokoto and to victims of recent Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe states.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for leaving no stone unturned in securing the release of some of the abducted children and called for continued effort to free those still held captive.

“Education is the bedrock of our children’s future,” he said. “An attack on education is a direct assault on our future.”

He warned that the security menace spares no one as it consumes the poor and the rich, Muslims and Christians, the young and the old.

He urged an end to partisan politics and a concerted action to ensure the very survival of the north and Nigeria at large.

“We must not allow our enemies to sow discord and distrust among us,” Yahaya added, calling for a rejection of simplistic, divisive and one‑sided narratives.

He identified underdevelopment, illiteracy, lack of opportunity, climate change and poor resource management as the underlying drivers of the crisis.

He placed the plight of millions of Almajiri and out‑of‑school children at the top of the agenda, demanding decisive and coordinated actions to put every child in school.

Reiterating a May 10, 2025 communique, the forum reaffirmed its support for state policing reform as a critical and effective mechanism to tackle the present security challenges.

The governors urged the National Assembly to fasttrack the constitutional amendments needed to make state police a reality.

Traditional rulers were asked to act as “stabilisers” using their moral authority, while religious leaders were called upon to promote tolerance and shun incitement.

Political leaders were warned against exploiting ethnic or religious divisions for political gain.

Security agencies were urged to maintain proactive vigilance and swift interventions, and the judiciary to ensure rapid administration of criminal justice.

The governors made a joint declaration pledging “collective resolve to work closely with the Federal Government under President Tinubu to turn the tide and ensure lasting peace and stability for our region and the nation at large.”

Speaking at the meeting on behalf of traditional rulers from the region, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged the governors to double their efforts and work in unity to confront the region’s 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 point that required sincerity, collaboration and unwavering commitment from its political and traditional leaders.

The royal father said the gathering offered yet another opportunity for leaders to “deliberate seriously” on matters threatening the stability of the North and the unity of the country, adding that political leaders must be honest with themselves and with citizens.

Earlier, Governor Uba Sani, who hosted the meeting, urged the participants to recommit to rebuilding a stable and economically vibrant North.

“We must reclaim the narrative of the North from those who trade in fear. Our people deserve stability, opportunity and hope,” he said.

Sani noted that despite progress made, the region faces a troubling trend of politicisation of insecurity, with some opposition actors amplifying fear and eroding public trust in governments.

“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.”

He stated that the current centralised policing structure could no longer protect a country of over 230 million citizens and vast ungoverned spaces.

He urged the leaders to speak frankly, examine bold ideas and reflect the visionary spirit that defines Northern leadership, saying, “Our people expect no less and history will remember the choices we make in moments like this.”