Northern elders meet in Kano to discuss challenges in North

The Northern Reform Organisation on Sunday brought together stakeholders and elders within the region to discuss challenges of Northern region in Kano State.

It is part of its efforts to address the escalating problems in the region that are now multiplying at an alarming rate and part of the organisation’s mandate to restore harmony, sustain peace and economic development and restore character and integrity to the Northern personality and identity.

Speaking, the Chairman of Northern Reform Organisation (NRO), Gidado Mukhtar, lamented that leadership is losing its quality, mission and purpose, adding that there was a need for urgent attention.

Giving a highlight as keynote speaker on the North with the topic; ‘North: yesterday, today and tomorrow,’ Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu said with the northern region having about 320 languages, it cannot be united unless one knows what the region is in spite of religion and diversity in identity.

Also speaking, Bashir Tofa stressed the need for the north to stand up and speak with one voice, citing laziness, envy, hatred, joblessness and poor implementation of policies as key issues giving birth to the menace.

“We voted leaders to work for us but end up enslaving us. We have thousands of things we don’t know how to control. We are not united, we don’t love ourselves. What will happen if there’s no Nigeria?” he said.

Another northern elder, Musa Magami, called on all to work together, saying the industrial base of the North had been reduced to the lowest level by years of neglect.

“We have seen a lot and it should serve as a lesson; we should force our leaders to change for good,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia was once in this situation and today, by taking the right steps, they are one of the developed countries in the world.

The Northern Reform Organisation has over 600 members with a base in Kano and in affiliation with 15 other organisations who are all moral volunteers.

(Nigerian Tribune)