Ex-VP Sambo hosts League of Northern Democrats in Abuja

Former Vice President Namadi Sambo and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahaman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) have described the formation of League of Northern Democrats (NLD) as timely and a veritable platform to galvanise efforts at addressing the numerous challenges facing the North and the country in general.

Sambo hosted the leadership of the League led by its chairman, former Kano State governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, at his residence in Abuja.

The former vice president said: “It is very worrisome to note how insecurity has crippled agriculture, while threatening education and health of our children and women, and these have continued to widen the net of poverty and inequality among people of the north and indeed the entire country.”

Sambo, who identified with and fully committed to supporting the initiative, tasked the forum to ensure that “Irrespective of our political lineage, we must continue to leverage on our respective experiences and resources to play our part in order to meet the aspirations of our people while engendering sustainable peace and socio-economic development.”

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In a separate letter of appreciation to the group, addressed to its convener, Dr. Umar Ardo, Lieutenant General Dambazau (Rtd) said ‘’ The deteriorating conditions in the whole of northern Nigeria, which include insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, endemic poverty, drug abuse, proliferation of arms and collapse of our institutions, require urgent and coordinated action”.

While appreciating the efforts and commitment of the group towards tackling the challenges facing the region, Dambazau said, ‘’The LND presents an opportunity to galvanise the efforts of our leaders and stakeholders to address these challenges and reposition the North for a more prosperous future”. He promised to participate in the group’s activities geared towards addressing the concerns of the region.

The League of Northern Democrats convened by Dr. Ardo was recently launched in a meeting attended by critical Northern elites.

The group appointed former Kano State governor as its protem chairman and former House of Representatives member, Emmanuel Jime as its secretary, amongst other eminent Northern Nigerians.