Hardship: We can no longer pacify our people, Northern monarchs tell Tinubu

Monarchs from the North, under the umbrella of Northern Traditional Council, NTC, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, yesterday, told the Federal Government that the  hardship, insecurity, poverty and unemployment in Nigeria and the North, in particular, was getting to a level they could no longer pacify the people from revolting.

Addressing members, yesterday, at the Arewa House, Kaduna, during the 6th executive Northern Traditional Council Committee meeting, the Sultan informed the government that the traditional rulers, religious leaders, as well as state governors, had been pacifying the masses and the jobless youths from revolting against political leaders at the helm of affairs.

According to him, "It is getting to a level that traditional leaders could no longer pacify the people from revolting against government and political leaders that supposed to find solutions to their lingering socio-economic plight.

"And let’s not take it for granted; people are quiet, they are quiet for a reason, because people have been talking to them. We have been talking to them, we have been trying to tell them that things will be okay and they keep on believing. I pray to Almighty Allah that they will not one day wake up and say we no longer believe in you that would be the biggest problem. We can’t continue to keep these people quiet as traditional, spiritual leaders and diplomats forever.

"We have reached that level, people are very agitated, people are hungry, they are angry, but they still believe there are people who can talk to them. They believe in some of their Governors, some other traditional rulers and some of their religious leaders, fortunately some of us double as traditional and religious leaders.

"So, we have this onerous task of reaching out to everybody, calm them down and assure them that things would be okay. And that they should continue to pray and still do something good because prayer without work will not bring anything good.

"To make matters worse, we are faced with rising level of poverty of most of our people. They lack normal sources of livelihood by the common man to have even a good meal a day.

"But I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is fine. I have said it so many times and at so many fora that things are not alright in Nigeria. Of course, things are not okay in the North.

"What are the real issues bringing about poverty and rising cases of insecurity? I don’t think it is the issue of new government. To me, this government is a continuation of the former government. It is the same party. So, what really is the problem? I think that is one of the reasons we are here to talk to ourselves.

"We owe it a duty to the teeming millions of people that believe in the traditional institution, to bring solution to the various problems facing them. We will not fail in doing that. We will do our best. We must find jobs for our teeming youths sitting idle. I have said it so many times; we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder having teeming youths without jobs and food. We are looking for trouble.

"But, we thank Allah we believe in ourselves, we believe in Almighty Allah to bring succour to all our problems. We will keep on praying and urging our political leaders, who we believe will do something better.

"We are only advisers to the political leaders, that is all we can do. But if we are empowered and as strong as the governors by the constitution, by the amount of funds they get from the Federal and states revenues, we can also do a lot.

"However, we are ready to work with the governors because we believe in them. We believe in what they are doing and must work with them. And if the governors too want to have peace and stability in their states, they must work with the traditional leaders.

"We are gathered here for the sole purpose of looking at the issue troubling our dear Northern states. We also invited the security chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Chief of Defence Staff, and Director-General, DG, State Security Service, SSS, to be with us and interact with us because of our concern for the rising insecurity in the North in particular.

"We have had such meetings before with the Northern Governors, so many times at Kashim Ibrahim House. We have entered into a new cycle of leadership. Some new Governors have come on board while some are having their second terms and still we are faced with these insecurity issues.

"I have said so many times that we never lack solution to our problems. What we lack is implementation because we meet today, bring out so many beautiful ideas on how to solve our problems, go back to our various places and go to bed, leaving such solutions here in this conference hall. So, how do we implement them?" 

"This is why we invited the leadership of Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, to come and interact with us on the outcome of similar meeting they organized in Abuja. We invited the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, to be part of us and talk to us too because as elders, some of whom have been in politics who have done a lot for the North and the country. At the end of the meeting, we believe we will come up with various suggestions on how to resolve our numerous problems in the North.

"Education is important, so whatever issue you want to bring to us here, you must talk about education. You must talk about health issue and of the two monsters that have been harassing all of us here. That is insecurity and poverty.”

Facing challenges 

Speaking, Governor Uba Sani called on political and religious leaders must brace up to face the challenges insecurity and poverty confronting the region.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Governor Sani, among others, said “This region used to be not only an oasis of peace and stability but also the food basket of the nation. Unfortunately, this same region has now become the epicentre of terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings. Our local economy has been destroyed. The lives so far lost are simply mind-boggling.

“Our people are deeply worried.  They are asking questions, they want answers, and they yearn for action. Leaders whether political or traditional, must brace up to face these challenges.

” For us political leaders, we have a responsibility to frontally address challenges, especially in the area of education, healthcare, agriculture, poverty, and unemployment. Priority attention must also be given to infrastructural development."

“States in the North must forge strong partnerships on security and other developmental issues and concerns. Agriculture, power, and infrastructure, especially roads, are critical areas where we must collaborate to revitalise our economy and address the challenges of poverty and insecurity."

“Going forward, northern states must develop a common strategy and operational plan to tackle insecurity. We must establish a command and control centre to coordinate our joint efforts against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal elements within this region."ss