Following the food supply strike threat by northerners, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, have met with some stakeholders in the northern food market community.
Fani-Kayode, who revealed the details of the meeting via his twitter handle said he and Governor Bello had engaged some food merchants from the north in a series of consultative meetings in a bid to end the food scarcity in the southern part of Nigeria.
Some stakeholders in the meeting included Alhaji Muhammed Tahir, the President of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs & Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Chairmen of the union from all the 36 states and the FCT), Dr. Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, the President of the Northern Consensus Movement, Alhaji Abdullahi Mai Agogo, the Sarkin Yaki Buhari, Alhaji Shettima Yerima and Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Some of the discussions held in the meetings comprise ways to end the tribal disagreements between Hausas and Yorubas that led to the killings in Shasha market, proactive measures to stall possible reprisal attacks, putting an end to the food supply strike embarked upon by northern food marketers against the south, and finally a broad conversation on how to propel peace and stability in all ends of the nation.
Fani-Kayode, in his statement also appreciated the collective efforts of some leaders from the South-West like Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, who facilitated a smooth and productive reconciliation and consultation process.
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The former minister also commended the contribution of Governor Yahaya Bello in the success achieved after the meetings held, saying the Kogi State Governor has shown good leadership qualities in these trying times in the country.
All resolutions agreed on were relayed to newsmen in two separate press conferences held at the Kogi State Government Lodge in Abuja as well as the Presidential Villa
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The friendship between Fani-Kayode and Yahaya Bello seems to be growing stronger in recent times as Fani-Kayode has been seen on many occasions, applauding the governor for his erudite leadership prowess.
It will be recalled that rumours of Fani-Kayode’s purported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), became more serious when pictures of his (Fani-Kayode) meeting with Yahaya Bello and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who doubles as Caretaker Chairman of the APC, hit the various social media platforms.
