BY YUSUF IDRIS GUSAU
A well thought out idea culminating into the formation of a Northern Elders Forum ten years ago is certainly a good move by the founding fathers for the emancipation, growth, unity and development of the region which has over time suffered reverses and minuses in spite of its strength in resources and population.
The forum has however been working on its takeoff mandate and declaration, watching and working on its God gifted strength while spiralling upcoming leaders who have the vision to traverse and catapult it to other heights and spheres for coming generations.
When it called for its first General Assembly meeting therefore which held at the Yar’adua Center, Abuja on Wednesday, 15th February, it became a call answered by majority of the invited personalities like the Zamfara state Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun who drafted a high powered delegation led by Ambassador Abubakar Hussaini Moriki along with Ambassador Bashir Yuguda and supported by Alhaji Muhammad Bello Umar Karakkai mni, the former Head of Service of the state, the former SSG, Prof. Abdullahi Muhammad Shinkafi, Sen. Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, Sen. Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, Sen. Lawal Hassan Daniya, Hon. Ibrahim Maigandi Danmalikin Gidangoga, Hoñ. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, the State APC Publicity Secretary.
In his opening remarks, the convener of the Assembly, Prof. Ango Abdullahi said the forum has remained focused on its mandate to move the north forward, especially at this crucial time when the nation is transiting from one administration to another.
However, Prof. Abdullahi pointed out that while the north is ready to work with anyone God chooses for Nigeria in 2023 as the next president, it will not be forced or intimidated into supporting any candidate during the election.
This is certainly a move worthy of support by the citizens in the region in order for every candidate especially the presidential to take note, review themselves and see what they or their parties have done to the region in the past as well as convince them on their plans for the progress of the north such as the one that will take them out of poverty, improve their wellbeing, restore the lost glory and pride of the area and make them equal citizens especially when the region turns out the highest votes to determine who the next national leader will be.
The lead paper, which was presented by Dr. Usman Bugaje dwelt largely on how the north has recorded backwardness in education, trade and industry and how these sectors can be revived through serious commitment and engagement of particularly the youths who have been left to wallow on the thorny path of live without the traditional elders’ guide that was enjoyed in the past.
Although representatives of the top personalities spoke in their respective turns, particularly the vice presidential candidates of the parties that attended the Assembly, representative of the APC Vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima took time to explain the quality and capacity of the former governor of Borno state and a banker who improved the development indices of the state amidst serious terrorist threats by the notorious boko haram group known globally on how it devastated Borno in particular before spreading its vicious tentacles to other parts of the country.
Just like what vice presidential candidate Shettima did in Borno, northeast of Nigeria, representative of Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara state, Ambassador Abubakar Hussaini Moriki drew the attention of the participants of the meeting to how bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers as well as spill over boko haram members infiltrated the state making it the hub of terrorists and committing heinous crimes worst than had ever been known or faced by Nigerians and how the governor made significant efforts to decimate these bandits earning the state relative peace within the short period of his first four year term in office which is now giving him overwhelming support from the people of Zamfara who yearn for Matawalle’s second term.
This is due largely to the fact that Matawalle’s unifying strategies and fight against armed banditry have remained unequivocally unequalled in the state.
The governor has also been able to initiate, create and support various self sustaining skills for the teeming youths and women which has prided the state to the envy of others within a short time frame.
Therefore, the declaration of the forum which call for unity, awareness, commitment, mobilization, collaboration and the need for inclusiveness, respect and engagement can be achieved with and through committed individuals, leaders like Matawalle other support groups.
Yusuf Idris is the Zamfara State APC Publicity Secretary
17th February, 2023
