From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Chairman Northern States Governors Forum and Governor of Gombe state Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, said that, the security situation in the North has reached a point where silence, hesitation, and routine responses are no longer acceptable.
Alhaji Inuwa Yamaya dropped the hint while delivering his speech during the Executive Committee Meeting of Northern Traditional Rulers Council, heldon Monday at banquet hall Government house Dutse of Jigawa State.
The governor who said, the theme of the meeting strikes at the very heart of the existence as a people: “Peace, Unity and Development of Northern Nigeria.”
“The theme of today’s meeting accurately captures the three most important issues that concern Northern Nigeria: Peace, Unity, and Development. Threat to peace, in the form of insecurity, which manifest as banditry, insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, and communal violence, represents the single biggest threat to the survival of Northern Nigeria. These security challenges are eating into the very bond that unites us as Northerners. Without security, there can be no unity. Without security and unity, there can be no development.
“Let me speak very frankly today. The security situation in the North has reached a point where silence, hesitation, and routine responses are no longer acceptable. Entire communities have been uprooted. Farmers have abandoned fertile land. Markets have collapsed. Schools have been shut down. Millions of our people have been displaced or forced to live in fear.
“The time has come for us to act with the seriousness this situation demands. Enough of meetings that do not produce results. Enough of communiqués that are not implemented. Enough of promises that are not followed by action. The old methods are clearly not working. We cannot continue to confront rapidly changing security threats with outdated strategies and fragmented responses.
“Your Highnesses, we are meeting at a moment of historic and unprecedented security challenges for Northern Nigeria. Never in our recent history have the threats to our collective existence been so grave, so pervasive, and so ruthless”, he said.
The governor then, extend their deepest condolences to the Government and people of Katsina State over the tragic death of Major-General Rabe Abubakar (rtd.) at the hands of bandits. “This tragedy tells us a painful truth: insecurity in the North affects us all, irrespective of social status. Whether you are a farmer, a monarch, a governor, or a retired General, no one is safe until everyone is safe. And unless we work together across all divides, we are all vulnerable.
While responding, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by Minister of information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said the federal government is committed towards improving security situations in the country.
The Minister who Commended the effort and roles of traditional leaders in peace keeping and National Development, and assured the federal government more support for better peaceful Nigeria.
He also described the death of late general Rabe as a great lost to the nation as well as a painful reminder to all Nigerians to work collectively and address the challenges.
