Northern elders begin tour of 19 states

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on the 19 northern governors to evolve modalities that will help the region regain its lost glory of peace and unity.

Chairman of the forum, Dr Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano, made the call yesterday when he led other members of the forum on a visit to Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Danmasanin Kano said the forum embarked on a special tour to the 19 governors with a view to reviving the region’s lost glory of peace and unity.

He said, “The delegation is a replica of the old north where nobody is refers to his tribe or religion and where people respect one another irrespective of religion or tribe inclination. This is what we want revive for a better north of tomorrow.

“As longest serving minister, who served from 1959-1966, I know what the region has in terms of natural resources. From Niger to Zamfara states we have gold and we have uranium in Gombe State. In fact we have oil and gas in some states in the north”

Danamsanin Kano said if northern governors could tap the untapped resources and pay serious attention to agriculture, the region would develop within a short time.

Ganduje said the forum had come up with a wise decision by preaching the gospel of unity and peace.

Ganduje said, “We have neglected agriculture because of oil and we have seen the consequences of our action. When the price of oil crashed, the north was left with no option than to go back to agriculture.”