Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has said the North is not short of solutions to the challenges facing it, but what lacked is sense of honesty and implementation.
Speaking at a Northern Security meeting convened by the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP) to inaugurate the Northern security monitoring committee yesterday in Kaduna, the sultan reminded leaders that they will give account of how they ruled their followers on the Day of Judgment.
He said, “We have lots of documents from several meetings and conferences submitted to the leaders and they have gone into the shelves. We have the solutions to the northern problems.
“Agreed, it is not possible to solve all the problems at once, so, we can do it in phases. But I must say, we do not lack the solutions, what we lack is implementation and honesty. We are not honest with ourselves and if we are not honest, we will continue to suffer the consequences.”
He urged leaders especially the northern governors to implement the reports of the many meetings held in the quest for a solution to the daunting challenges in the region.
On the proposed regional security outfit, the sultan asked the leaders to caution the youth and not allow them take laws into their hands.
“The Northern Youth Coalition just created their own security outfit with just two or three vehicles and the elders allowed the youths to go forward. That is why I said the elite are our problems. The elders are our problems. If the elders do not take the lead, the youths will do whatever they like and think they are right. You have to caution this youths by giving them good leadership,” he added.
On his part, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara said the North has now become the heart and theatre of violence and stressed the urgent need to find a lasting solution to the situation.
He emphasised that Nigeria has suffered from Boko Haram ISWAP led by Albarnawi; Boko Haram led by Shekau; and Ansaru insurgency, to farmers/herders conflicts; banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts, cattle rustling among several others.
He said the real problem facing the country is the failure to provide leadership and organize a society that works for all.
