Northern Leaders Seek Unity, Common Agenda
Some politicians and leaders from the northern part of the country have started an initiative aimed at reconciling various groups in the region to agree to a common agenda for peace and development.
The leaders, under the auspices of Northern Elders Assembly, have been rallying support of eminent political leaders in the north such as former military Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalam Abubakar, and former Vice President, Namadi Sambo.
Speaking to journalists weekend at his residence in Abuja shortly after a meeting with some elders, former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar advised Nigerians to embrace peace and be ready to volunteer information on the identities of perpetrators of the killings and destruction in parts of the country.
The former Head of State said for the county to enjoy meaningful development everyone must allow peace to reign. He also charged politicians from all sides of the divide to join hands to ensure that there is peace in the country ahead of the 2019 elections, adding that without peace, there would be no nation.
“I have no other advice to give than solicit for peace. Peace is paramount to everything. If there is no peace, there is no nation, if there is no peace there would not be any politicking. So it is absolutely necessary for each and every one of us to put hands on deck to ensure that there is peace in the country,” he said.
On his advice to political parties as they engage in cam- paigns for the 2019 general election, the former Head of State said: “they should make peace. Once you have peace, you always solve any problem.”
When asked about his concerns over spate of killings by armed herdsmen, Abubakar said the reason senseless killings and criminality had continued unabated was because people were not ready to identify the causes and those behind it so as to nip it in the bud.
“These criminals, are they Nigerians or they are foreigners and if they are foreigners have we been told where they are coming from, are we given intelligence” And if they are Nigerians, are they not our brothers and sisters, don’t we know them? or can’t we expose them? So each and every one of us has a role to play,” he said
On what he thinks can be done to put an end to the spate of killings in the country, he said: “you see I wander at people when start asking this question, me and you and every Nigerian have a role to play in ending this carnage.
Abubakar said: “Government is not just all in the Villa; we and every person they represent are part and parcel of this government. Let us keep praying that God will look at us with mercy so all these criminality and other ills will come to an end and for us to have a peaceful country.
“All these senseless killings and criminality that are going on will not serve any purpose. So please let’s try and make sure that we give peace a chance”.
A top woman politician, a former minister, Hajia Inna Ciroma who volunteered to speak to journalists on the outcome of the various consultative a meetings with the leaders said they have agreed to support the agenda of the group to ensure the north speaks with one voice once again.