From SANDY ABAH, Abuja
If we do not work to do things differently, to reinvent ourselves for the sake of our land and people, we will certainly be overwhelmed by the current socio-political and economic challenges facing Nigeria, Northern Nigeria’s political heavy weights seemed to be saying yesterday, Saturday, September 7, when former Vice-President Namadi Sambo played host to newly formed League of Northern Democrats (LND), to brainstorm on the way forward for the region.
Describing the group as a vital platform that will address challenges facing the North and the country in general, Sambo, who hosted the group led by former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, at his Abuja residence, expressed his outrage at the crippling effects of insecurity on agriculture, education and healthcare delivery in the North, lamenting the exacerbation of poverty and inequality in the North and nationwide as a result.
“It is deeply troubling to note how insecurity has devastated agriculture, threatening the education and health of our children and women,” Samo agonized.
“This has consequently widened the net of poverty and inequality among the people of the North and the entire country.”
Sambo, who pledged his unalloyed support for the group’s aspirations, emphasised the need for the Shekarau-led LND to harness experiences and resources across political divides for the sake of the land and people of Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole, urging members to work together to meet the desires of Northern Nigerians who, he said, simply want to live in peace and security and work to foster sustainable socio-economic development in their areas.
Daily Query reports that the League of Northern Democrats, was convened by Dr Umar Ardo, former SDP governorship candidate in Adamawa State and former Special Assistant to Vice President Atitku Abubakr, and inaugurated on the 21st of last month (August, 2024), with former Governor Shekarau as protem chairman and former House of Representatives member, Emmanuel Jime as secretary.
According to a brief literature on the group, which is scheduled to hold a summit in Kaduna this October, LND seeks to find last solutions to the challenges of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment facing the North, devoid of political, ethnic, or religious colourations.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima is expected to attend the summit.
Dr. Ardo emphasized that the LND will also support the government in tackling the myriad of challenges undermining Northern states, including insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and destitution, as well as address the high rate of unemployment and the concomitant effect of drug addiction among youths now ravaging the North.
