Chairman, Northern States Governors’
Forum (NSGF) and Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on Monday,
described the northern region as a ‘laughing stock’ because of poverty as well
as insecurity that is ravaging the area in recent times ever than before.
Addressing councils of traditional
rulers across the region at an extraordinary meeting of the Northern States
Governors’ Forum, the first of its kind, Shettima said the meeting was
convened to collectively deliberate and find lasting solutions to the myriad of
socio-economic and political problems besetting the region, which he noted,
have direct bearing on the well-being and welfare of the teaming people.
This was even as the Sultan of
Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar 111 said traditional rulers were ready
and willing to support the governors to ensure end to insecurity and poverty in
the north, adding that enough is enough of the socio-economic menace the
area has found itself.
“We look forward to a very robust,
blunt and honest discussion today. Let us collectively as one people say enough
is enough. We believe the position paper from this council would be presented
later to the Northern Governors’ Forum to make our points on these issues and
many more,” the Sultan said.
Governor Shettima also said
that the traditional rulers were invited to the meeting because governors
alone could not find solutions to problems confronting most parts of the
North, adding that the governors would look forward to valuable and free minded
conversations that should focus on solving the challenges by the royal fathers.
