TOP NEWS
By Sabiu Muhammad | Kaduna
On Apr 10, 2021

LEADERS of northern Nigeria from 17 groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), declared on Friday that the North was ready for restructuring of Nigeria but it would not succumb to any blackmail to rotate the presidency with the South.

The groups, under the aegis of the Northern Peoples Summit, took that decision in Kaduna, Kaduna State, after what they described as two days of deliberations. They issued a 12-point communique literally emphasising the political advantage which the North currently enjoys over the South. “The North will not be stampeded or blackmailed into taking major decisions around rotating the presidency,” they said.

The communique reads in part: “The Northern Peoples Summit convened on the 7th and 8th April, 2021 at Arewa House, Kaduna, to discuss the issues bedeviling the North and the Nigerian State. These include security, restructuring, economic, politics and the survival of the Nigerian State.

“After two days’ intensive discussions, the summit resolved as follows:

“To sustain the summit as a productive forum for utilising pan-Northern assets in the search for resolution of Northern problems;

“To encourage Northern elites and political leadership to improve their levels of sensitivity to inclusiveness and management of the North’s pluralism. The North will be stronger if it addresses its internal weaknesses, particularly around ethnoreligious matters, as it relates to its challenges with the rest of Nigeria. Perception and practise of creating minorities and majorities among Northerners should have no place in the North, nor is discrimination on the basis of place, faith or ethnic group of any Northerner;


“The North believes that restructuring the country is now a vital necessity for survival as one united entity.

“The North will not be stampeded or blackmailed into taking major decisions around rotating the presidency.

“The North draws attention of the country to the inherent fragility of the Nigerian state. For Nigeria to survive, all parts of the country must equally commit to supporting its continuation as one entity, without equivocation or subterfuge. The North extends an invitation to groups that are genuinely interested in discussing the future of the country. The North believes that every interest can be accommodated in one united, just and equitable nation, but the North cannot be the sole custodian of this endeavour.


“The North warns against the continuation of demonisation, attacks and killings of Northerners in the Southern parts of the country. It demands that federal and state governments must take firmer steps to protect members of Northern communities who live in the South. This includes the arrest and prosecution of persons who are involved in these dangerous activities.

“The North urges Northern communities to continue to exercise restraint and be good hosts.

“The North invites the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, Northern governors and legislators to the fact that under their watch, the North has sunk lower in all indices of human existence. Delegates at the summit commit to continuously engage in searching for solutions, as well as raising their voices against poor governance, corruption and absence of commitment to deal with insecurity, poverty and hopelessness among Northerners.


“Government should show effective presence in all ungoverned spaces in the North. “The North resolves that there should be government backed negotiations and dialogue with the bandits, Boko Haram and affected communities for effective peace in the North.

“The North appreciates the response of H.E. Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum (NGF) Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, to its invitation to attend the summit and be a resource person who enriched our discussions.


“The Northern Peoples Summit will reconvene in the near future. Signatories to the communique are Air Marshal Al-amin Daggash, Northern Elders Forum (NEF); Ambassador Ibrahim Mai-Sule, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); Dr Usman Bugaje, Arewa Research Development Project (ARDP); Engr. Bello Suleiman, Code Group (CG); Dr Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe; The Northern Movement (TNM); Dr Innocent Ahure, Northern Development Resource Centre (NDRC); Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, Kano Concern Citizens Initiative (KCCI); Hajiya Bilkisu Oniyangi, Arewa Initiative for Good Governance (AIGG); Dr Rose Danladi Idi, Northern Initiative Forum for Development (NIFD); Nastrura Ashir Shariff, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG); Yerima Shettima, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF); Murtala Mohammed, Joint Action Comm. of Northern Youth Ass (JACNYA); Comrade D. S. Rimoni, Middle Belt People Assembly (MBPA); Alhaji Muhammed Tahir, Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Alhaji Awual Tukur (Galadiman Delta), Northern Union Rep. South South; Alhaji Iliyasu Yushau (Sarkin Hausawa Onitsha), Northern Union Reps South East; Alhaji Aliyu Yaro, Northern Union Rep. South West and Professor D. D. D. Sheni, Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee.


The communique came a day after Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State issued a statement threatening reprisal attacks on Southerners in the North if what he called attacks on Northerners residing in the South did not stop. Matawalle’s statement reads in part: “As Northern leaders, our dignified silence in the face of constant provocation, attacks because of our desire for peace must not be taken as a sign of weakness as no community, no region has the monopoly of violence.

“If Northerners and their means of livelihood will not be protected, accommodated and be dignified anywhere they chose to stay in any part of the South, Southerners should not expect such reciprocal protection from the North as the North has more than what it takes to respond to any kind of aggression and hatred.





Source: https://tribuneonlineng.com/we-are-ready-for-restructuring-but-wont-rotate-presidency-north/amp/

Hnnmm

Ownership mentality dictated. Which is why we are where are today

Day never break. They are still grandstanding and issuing conditional statement when it is yet night time.

When day breaks for all ethnicities, everybody go answer him papa name.

You don't pay the Piper, so why dictate the tune

I didn't read because I know nothing good will come out of these folks. Just wait small, with d way the country is going, u will rule urselves forever. Just wait small again.

...I think this northerner are good in politics and development. and I also think other tribes and region has been obscuring their capabilities.

so on this note. Let everyone go their separate ways. the north can retain the name Nigeria. we don't need it.

illicit:
You don't pay the Piper, so why dictate the tune

Kaduna armoury, lopsided force recruitment, caged southern elites and nuisance almajiri foot soldiers give them a false sense of invincibility.

Time shall tell.

We shall see...

Its high time these people rule themselves...
Moreover they've got nothing to contribute to the country, yet they are claiming ownership!!
Pathetic!!!

They don't fund their so called North!
Yet they want us to remain under their suppressing Rulership/Dictatorship..
Impossible!!!!!!

From the way things are going, I'm not sure they'll be an election come 2023!!!

The owners of Nigeria have spoken. Let the slaves listen very well.

henrysam:
The owners of Nigeria have spoken. Let the slaves listen very well.

The slaves are those who helped them secure the estate called Nigeria in the 60's.

Who get time to read this arrogant trash

this people are the actual problem of this con3