The Convener of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Prof. Ango Abdullahi has said that the Northern region will support the re-engineering of the Federal system to make it more responsive to the needs of the people.
Abdullahi stated in Kaduna at the opening of Northern Summit, convened by NEF, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other groups in the region.
Represented by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, NEF Director Publicity and Advocacy, Abdullahi said the region will support a re-visit of the governance structure and processes of the country.
“It should now be a settled issue that the northerners wants a through interrogation of our arrangements because they will benefit from the exercise and not as a concession to noise makers who see it as a route to short -term political goals.”
He pointed out that the north would want to see a serious attitude to re-engineering the federal system from the leaders.
He stressed the need for the country to vastly improve the governance system, to protect citizens rather than political interests.
“Nigeria should encourage a citizen-driven review of our foundations system, and democratically put in place leaders who will address them as matters for national survival or collapse”
According to him, things would no longer be business as usual as Nigerians are battling to make ends meet.
He said that the summit would strive to find solutions to the current situation in the country and explore ways to uncover better leaders at all levels.
In his message, the Sardaunan Katsina, Alhaji Ibrahim Ida, who spoke on behalf of the ACF, urged north to diligently articulate its position to national issues.
He stressed that the region needs internal cohesion and a leadership selection system driven by competence rather than sentiment.
Ida said Nigeria requires elite consensus rather than legal cohesion to move forward.
Hajiya Maria Baba, a participant, attributed the travails in the region to the breakdown of the family system.
“Most parents have neglected their responsibilities, and we need to go back to the drawing board, go back to the family setting and bring up our children properly so that they can grow up and take the mantle of leadership”.
Also, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gali Na’Abba, stressed the need for all to work towards the sustainability of the north and the country.
Dominica Nwabufo
