Grassroots must be involved in fight against insecurity – Aduku, former minister

The national chairman of the North-Central People’s Forum (NPF), Chief Gabriel Aduku, is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview, the former minister of state for health spoke on insecurity, restructuring and the way forward for the country. He also explained the rationale behind the formation of the forum.

Insecurity has bedeviled this country for a long time; in what specific ways do you think the problem could be solved?

People must be involved in the fight right from the grassroots. To rid this country of banditry, Boko Haram insurgency, terrorism and kidnapping, there must be a sincere approach from the grassroots. Also, other countries that are supporting them must be fought nationally. Where are they getting their guns from? They are from those countries. The names of the countries and dates they were manufactured are there on the guns. They can be easily tracked with such identities.

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We are working towards holding a security and development submit, which all the governors and the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are expected to attend.

The summit is a prime action because insecurity is building up all over the places. We recognise the problem and need to come out with our own solution to ensure that at the end, there would be a harmonised security action that would be safe for this country.  We need to expose so many things in addressing issues that would bring about solutions to the diverse problems this country is facing.

What is your take on restructuring?

Restructuring is the best way to go now. There should be a moral rearmament among the people. People have been derailed by anger, frustration and depression due to agitation for equity and fairness. Attitudes must change. We need moral education.  We need to rearm ourselves seriously towards peace and unity. Why must we be fighting ourselves just because of poor governance that everybody is complaining about?

There is the need to give more authorities to the states, especially the local governments. Governance has to be taken to the grassroots, where moral education must be stimulated by breeding responsible youths that can reason and participate in nation-building and development efforts.

What factors informed the establishment of the North-Central People’s Forum?

One of the major issues that agitated our minds, which led to the formation of the Forum is development.  The North-Central zone, which comprises seven states – Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger, Plateau and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, needs more development and has enormous resources to drive it.  For this to happen, efforts of the state governors need to be harnessed by ensuring their coming together with other progressive-minded people and stakeholders within the zone.

The North-Central is full of development tools that can be used to harness the whole country. For example, the iron and steel sector is one big issue, but for the past 30 years it has been abandoned. That’s a project that would have landed the country in a full global economy, apart from other local market opportunities. But it has been moribund since 1983.

What other resources do you think could be maximised to engender the development you are advocating?

There are over 40 mineral resources under the soil, and Kogi has a lot of them. In Niger State, you have the Kainji dam. Over the years, it has been maximised to generate electricity steadily.  But somehow, we are still in a terrible energy situation. An ally like the NPF can convince the authorities to do the needful.

The Jeba Paper Mill could be resuscitated to maximise its economic potentials. But we prefer to import papers from countries that are not blessed with a rich vegetation like ours. Newspaper industries spend staggering amounts of money on importation of papers. If we can develop our paper mill, we too can become an exporter of papers and a source of supply to the newspaper industry; then our economy can be better for it.

e you also considering the dredging of rivers Niger and Benue as part of the development drive you are talking about?

That is our prime. I have written to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to take up the issue of dredging the rivers with Mr President. From the records so far, every government has been saying it would try to dredge the rivers, but over the years, the dredging has not seen the light of day.

All Nigerians must think about it because of the enormous socioeconomic benefits. It would also offer more flood protection, as well as recreation opportunities, return of river events and a revitalised riverfront economy.

To what extent do you carry governors in the North-Central states along, in the light of the development agenda you have been advocating?

The governors have agreed to support the Forum to achieve its aims. We are looking forward to inaugurating chapters in all the states.   The chapters are to coordinate the activities of the Forum, with a view to ensuring development in the zone.

A former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), is also from the North-Central. How does the Forum intend to tap from his political experiences in achieving some of its objectives?

He is an asset to the Forum.  We shall keep tapping from his experiences on how to live in unity and peace, which will drive the development we are talking about.