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Former Vice President Namadi Sambo has lamented the escalating insecurity in the North, stating that it is driving farmers away from their farms and adversely affecting the education and health of numerous families.
Sambo also expressed his support for the formation of the League of Northern Democrats, which he described as a viable platform to address the numerous challenges facing the North and the country at large.
He gave his endorsement while hosting the leadership of the League, led by its chairman, former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, at his residence in Abuja on Saturday.
He said, “It is very worrisome to note how insecurity has crippled agriculture while threatening the education and health of our children and women. This has continued to widen the net of poverty and inequality among the people of the North and indeed the entire country.”
The former Vice President, who identified with the initiative, urged the forum to rise to meet the aspirations of the people in the region.
“Irrespective of our political affiliations, we must continue to leverage our respective experiences and resources to play our part in meeting the aspirations of our people while fostering sustainable peace and socio-economic development,” he added.
The League of Northern Democrats, convened by elder statesman Umar Ardo was recently launched in a meeting attended by key Northern elites.
The group appointed Shekarau as its pro tem chairman and former House of Representatives member Emmanuel Jime as secretary, among other eminent Northern Nigerians.
In a letter of appreciation addressed to the League’s convener on Saturday, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, also expressed concern over the spate of insecurity affecting the North.
He said, “The deteriorating conditions in Northern Nigeria, including insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, endemic poverty, drug abuse, proliferation of arms, and the collapse of our institutions, require urgent and coordinated action.”
Commending the group’s commitment to addressing regional challenges, Dambazau stated that the League of Northern Democrats presents an opportunity to galvanise the efforts of leaders and stakeholders to reposition the North for a more prosperous future.
He also pledged to participate in any of the group’s activities aimed at addressing the region’s concerns.
Meanwhile, the League has announced plans to hold a historic summit in Kaduna in October, with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to attend.
According to the convener, the League of Northern Democrats is not aligned with any political party or ethnic or religious affiliation.
“It was established to assist the government in tackling the myriad challenges undermining the northern states, such as insecurity, poverty, illiteracy, destitution, unemployment, and the menace of drug addiction among the youth,” Ardo noted.
