The meeting, christened, ‘An extraordinary meeting,’ by the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Borno State, Kassim Shettima, was convened to find a lasting solution to the security challenges and socio-economic problems confronting the region.

Shettima said poverty, persistent insecurity, occasioned by the deadly Boko Haram attacks, kidnap and other crimes, have  reduced the north to a  laughing stock of the world.

To him, that  was why the extraordinary meeting with the emirs and chiefs were imperative, because they “are significant stakeholders in the affairs of the region.”

Shettima, while addressing his colleagues to declare the meeting open, said the north, a once most thriving region, has been  reduced to nothing, saying that “there is no gainsaying the fact that the North is now a poor, pathetic shadow of its former self.”

He noted that the region today has  been blighted by a deadly insurgency, rural armed banditry, cattle rustling, ethnic and religious conflicts, the underlying causes of which are poverty, illiteracy, social exclusivity and severely limited economic opportunities.

Shettima added, “A well endowed, promising geographic space which accounts for 70 per cent of Nigeria’s land mass, up to at least 60 per cent of its population, with huge solid minerals resources, with potentials for hydrocarbon resources, a growing mining industry, rich arable lands, a blossoming agro-industrial economy, Nigeria’s wealthiest region by GDP and the region with the brightest prospects for accelerated economic growth.

“In short, arguably Nigeria’s most thriving region, (North) has literally conspired against itself to be reduced to the laughing stock of the world.”

Against this background, Shetimma said, the regional monarchs, governors and political leaders must close ranks to end the persistent challenges.

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jama’atu Nasri Islam, Sa’ad Abubakar III, said monarchs in the north were worried over the killings by herdsmen in the region.

Besides, he said, traditional rulers in the region were disturbed with the use of places worship to preach hatred and violence.

He explained that the reason why the killings in the region continued unabated was because nobody was ever punished for the act (killing).

He said the traditional rulers were ready to support the governors on measures to be taken to end the continued killing in the region.

The Sultan said, “We at the Northern Traditional Rulers Council are very worried and sad with the situation of insecurity in the north, especially the happenings in Southern Kaduna, kidnapping, cattle rustling, the state of IDPs in the North East in particular and other parts of the country.

“We are more worried with the use of  places of religious worship to preach hatred, violence and other issues that tend to divide us, rather than strengthen our unity as a people created by one God.

“We believe that one of the numerous reasons why violence continues to thrive in our midst is the impunity that is allowed to thrive in our midst. Nobody is punished for criminal doings they commit.”

He added, “We are therefore strongly supporting more measures taken and to be taken by governors of the Northern states, especially the Governor of Kaduna State.

“We must all strive to achieve lasting peace in the north in particular and the whole country in particular.”

Attendees at the meeting are governors of Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai; Borno, Kassim Shettima; Adamawa, Sen. Muhammad Umaru Jubrilla; Kebbi, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Jigawa, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar;  Kano, Dr.  Abdullahi Ganduje; Niger,  Abubakar Sani Bello; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal; and Taraba, Darius Ishaku.

Emirs and Chiefs who attended the meeting include, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad AbubakarIII; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi; Emir of Gwandu, Maj.Gen Muhammad Iliyasu Bashir; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II; Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu; Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumini Usman; Emir of Zazzau, Etsu-Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar.

Others are Attah of Igala, Michael Ameh Oboni II, Emir of Zamfara, Alhaji Attahiru M Ahmad, Aku Uka, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Nasa-Ibi, Gbong Gwom Jos, Dr. Jacob Gyang Buba, Tor Tiv,  Prof James Ayatse and the Emir of Lafiya, Dr. Isa Mustapha Agwai.

Roll calls of other prominent notherners are the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum and Danmasanin Kano, Alhaji Maitama Sule and his Secretary, Dr. Paul Unongo, Secretary-General, Arewa Consultative Forum, Col. John Uba(retd),  ACF Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim among others.

Punch