Northern Leaders of Thought rose from a meeting at Arewa House, Kaduna at the weekend, declaring that the fundamental rights of all political parties to field candidates of their choices, and the right of voters to freely exercise choices over who leads them cannot be compromised.
The group specifically urged President Muhammadu Buhari to accent to the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, as it would improve the quality of elections, starting from 2023.
The leaders who deliberated on the theme; “Rebuilding the North”, also said that Northerners have equal rights to aspire to all offices, adding however that they must raise competence, evidence of personal integrity and commitments to the rule of law above all other considerations.
The meeting urged Northerners to ignore provocative statements from groups in the South of Nigeria, who appear to believe that Command Democracy in which threats and hate campaigns are their hallmark or defining elements will work in Nigeria, adding that the North should vote for the best leader.
This was as they stressed that the current state of insecurity in the North is unprecedented and unacceptable.
While commending the efforts of the nation’s defence and security forces in rolling back sundry threats that have weakened the Nigerian State and made life almost valueless, the Northern Leaders of Thought advised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors and Legislators to revisit and re-prioritize spending on security and addressing the scourge of poverty.
The Northern Leaders of Thought in a communique signed by Prof. D. D. D. Sheni, Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee noted what it described as the desperate condition of economic existence of most Northerners which it said poses additional threats to security and the democratic process.
The leaders therefore recommended that public office holders should avoid pushing the population into deeper poverty and desperation with challenging economic policies and lack of empathy.
The communique further states; “Government at all levels should consider a form of structured welfare system to alleviate poverty in the populace.
“The Meeting advises the federal Government to postpone the planned 2022 National Census in view of the large numbers of displaced Nigerians and the proximity of the census to the 2023 elections.
“The Meeting urges the National and States Assemblies to prioritize constitutional amendments currently being processed.
“The Meeting urges key Northern Groups to engage groups from the South to improve understanding, lower tensions and contribute to the creation of an atmosphere that allows all Nigerian to live in peace with each other;
“The Meeting recognizes our ethno-religious diversity in the North which is a source of strength that should be celebrated.
“The Meeting further observed that all faiths teach us to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and not hate or attack those who worship in a different way. Our religious differences should be an invaluable asset not a liability or a potent weapon in the hands of our desperate and failed leaders.
“The Meeting advises Northern Groups to visit and engage President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss with him on ways in which the security and economic condition of Northerners can be improved.
“The Meeting recognized that education in the region has never been more imperiled than now. Insecurity has exponentially increased the number of out of school children. School abductions closures and excruciating poverty have set back education in the region many generations.
“The Meeting calls on the state and Federal Governments to protect all our schools and rescue all our children in the hand of Bandits, and insurgents.
“The Meeting notes the disconnect between citizens Vs Leaders: The Meeting observed the widening gap and disconnect between the citizens and their elected representatives as an existential threat to the security of this nation.
“The meeting therefore calls on all strata of our leadership to reconnect with the citizens.
“The Meeting notes the wide spread insecurity, poverty and discontent with the leadership has resulted in serious voter apathy that is unhelpful to our fragile democracy. It calls on all Nigerians particularly the youth not to despair but to register to vote for a leadership that can change the fortunes of Nigeria.
“The meeting recommends the need to have a working partnership with government agencies and other non-government organs to restore and re-instate the traumatized and displaced communities (IDP) to their villages as we initiate trauma healing sessions for them as well as de-radicalization programmes targeting the youths in the affected areas,” the Northern Leaders of Thought said.
