* As Yuguda bemoans level of corruption
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, Arewa New Agenda (ANA) Alhaji Yayale Ahmed has declared that the Northern part of the county has no apology for backing the nation’s presidency to shift to the Southern part, after eight years in the North.
Alhaji Ahmed made this declaration on Thursday during a one-day dialogue session organised by ANA in Abuja.
At the dialogue session with the theme, “Renewed Hope: The Road to Ending Poverty in Nigeria”, the former SGF maintained, strongly that the North is ‘unapologetic’ over its decision to allow the presidency shift to South, after former President Muhammadu Buhari, (a Northerner),had governed the nation for eight years between 2015 and 2023.
According to him, “Changing the baton of leadership from the North to the South (in 2023) shows that we are true nationalists. We are unapologetic about it”.
Alh Ahmed thus harped on the need for the Northerners in particular and Nigerians in general to embrace each others by doing away with the issue of differences in religion, ethnicity and political leanings among others.
His words, “We must agree that all of us are the same, regardless of religion, politics, tribes and ethnicity. We will not be able to drive away poverty, if we do not put our differences away.
“We should be ready to forgive each others. Tolerance, accommodation and mutual respect are very important. We to embrace each others to reduce poverty in. Nigeria”, he said.
The erstwhile SGF dismissed the notion that Nigeria is a sleeping giant, saying, “Nigeria is not a sleeping giant. It is a giant that is being disturbed by her children”.
Speaking at the event, a former Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda described religion as the biggest problem of the Northerners, stressing that the people seem not to understand why the two religions were sent down by God.
Yuguda, who is also a one time Minister of Aviation, added, “there is no basis for killing each other under the guise of religious differences”.
While appreciating the quality of leaders that the North has been blessed with, Yuguda stressed the need to address the issue of irrigation facilities and dams in the region.
“”We must dam our rivers in order to make use of them during the dry season, he said.
Yuguda however bemoaned the level of corruption in the country.
He described as shocking that a former Accountant-General of the federation (Ahmed Idris) could allegedly steal public funds in excess of N160billion.
Continuing, he said, “We must fight the issue of corruption for the North to grow”
Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of Arewa New Agenda, Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi pointed out that the forum will work to ensure that poverty is tackled frontally.
According to him, “We will work to ensure that poverty is tackled frontally as we believe it is possible to overcome not only the excruciating impact of poverty but poverty in all its ramifications which is cardinal objective of the renewed hope agenda”.
He added, “This forum of like-minded individuals, who came together seeking to promote the continuing prominence, relevance, innovations and development of the north through a vision of a Nigeria; where the north is capable, vibrant and takes ownership of its future, is one of the fore-front fora that held series of activities including endorsement and sensitization, advocacy, policy dialogue and other strategic engagements in the run up to the 2023 General elections as its contribution to the electoral success of the Tinubu Administration”.
The Convener listed the objectives of the forum to include:
*To propose a call to action for the Nigerian people in the desire to end excruciating poverty.
*To sensitize participants and by extension the Nigerian people on the enormous capacity of our country to return to the past years of prosperity.
*To seek ways and means where the masses of Nigeria can embrace the renewed hope agenda as a means of returning to the good old days
*To gain from policy makers insights into what is being done to move Nigeria over the poverty line.
Among those in attendance at the dialogue session aside Yayale Ahmed and Mallam Yuguda, were former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmad Yetimah, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Senator Grace Bent, Senator Gregory Manzo, Barrister Mohammed Bashir Wali, Prof Sadiq Ahmed Gambo, Prof Ahmed Danfulani, Alhaji Abdullahi Candido, former Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Senator Lawali Shuaibu, General Sali Maina, rtd, and Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi.
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