By George George ldowu
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The former Vice President Namadi Sambo has lamented the surge insecurity in the northern part of the country, stating that it is driving farmers away from their farms and adversely affecting food security, education and health of families.
The former Vice-President also expressed his support for the formation of the League of Northern Democrats, which he described as a viable platform to address the numerous challenges facing the north and the country at large.
Sambo gave his endorsement while hosting the leadership of the League, led by its chairman, former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, at his residence in Abuja at weekend.
His words, “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 who identified with the initiative, urged the forum to rise to meet the aspirations of the people in the region.
“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,” he added.
The League of Northern Democrats, convened by elder statesman Umar Ardo was recently launched in a meeting attended by key Northern elites
The group appointed Shekarau as its pro tem chairman and former House of Representatives member Emmanuel Jime as secretary, among other eminent Northern Nigerians.
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, has also expressed readiness to join the League and partake in its activities to curb the spate of insecurity affecting the North.
In a letter he sent to the League, Dambazau said, “The deteriorating conditions in Northern Nigeria, including insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, endemic poverty, drug abuse, proliferation of arms, and the collapse of our institutions, require urgent and
Meanwhile, the League has announced plans to hold a historic summit in Kaduna in October, with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to attend.
According to the convener, the League of Northern Democrats is not aligned with any political party or ethnic or religious affiliation.
“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,” Ardo noted
