Former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, has voiced his concerns about the worsening insecurity in the North, stating that it is driving farmers away from their farms and negatively impacting the education and health of numerous families.
Sambo made the comments while hosting the leadership of the League of Northern Democrats at his Abuja residence 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.”
Sambo emphasized the need for collective action to address the challenges facing the North, saying, "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."
The League of Northern Democrats, a recently launched initiative, aims to address the region's numerous challenges.
The group has appointed former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau as its chairman and former House of Representatives member Emmanuel Jime as secretary.
In a separate letter, former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in Northern Nigeria, including insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, poverty, drug abuse, and institutional collapse.
He commended the League's commitment to addressing regional challenges and pledged to participate in their activities.
“The deteriorating conditions in Northern Nigeria, including insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, endemic poverty, drug abuse, the proliferation of arms, and the collapse of our institutions, require urgent and coordinated action", he expressed.
The League has announced plans to hold a historic summit in Kaduna in October, with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to attend.
The convener, Umar Ardo, emphasized that the League is not aligned with any political party or ethnic or religious affiliation, but rather aims to assist the government in tackling the North's challenges, “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,” he said.
