From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the late premier of Northern region Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto as an exceptional icon in the business of Governance whose sterling leadership quality would remain indelible in the political lexicon of the nation.
Speaking at a special lecture organized by the Sardauna memorial foundation entitled Reviving the Northern traditional institutions, imperatives
on peace and security in the north held at the coronation hall government Kano,Tuesday,
Osinbajo stated that, differences pertaining to ethnic and religious decisions was what he had fought to jettison during his life time.
According to him, the issue of good governance and leadership in a Democratic setting entails a commitment and doggedness of a leader who can at all times strive to safeguard at all cost, stressing that sustaining his good legacies is what is most to move forward.
Turning to the persistence spate of insecurity rocking the northern part of country, the vice president gave the assurance that, the federal government is working round the clock to ensure that those apprehended as a result of their respective evolvement were speedily prosecuted inline with the laws of the country.
He said,” we are not unmindful of the present trauma the people of the north are currently undergoing we are very much concerned about the future of our children and we are doing all we can to protect what we believed is in their best interest. The issue of banditry is not peculiar to Nigeria alone knowing the prevailing trend the world over”
“ The need for restrategization in the way we are doing in spheres of governance and leadership has also became imperative. We would continue to fail in our responsibility if we have not reason to address knotty issues affecting the nation. We should all believe that Nigeria belongs to every Nigerian irrespective of one’s ethnic or religious back ground “ he added .
Commenting on the role expected from the traditional institutions on the need to rise to the challenge of maintaining peace in the country in the most turbulent times, the vice president pointed out that, the traditional institutions are indispensable in making the nation secure.
He however, stated that, there is also the compelling need for the constitution to be reviewed in order to accommodate traditional authorities in view of the spectacular role the are playing in dousing tension and crisis at a time when such am effort was proven difficult.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman Board of tTustees Sardauna Memorial Foundation, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said “the north is in search of direction and focus in the business of governance and leadership in the present setting.
“considering the myriad of woes afflicting the north in particular in the face of the security challenges that have almost become intractable.
“Late Sir Ahmadu Bello had lived a life worth leaving which those in position of authorities aught to emulate with commitment and vigour,” Osinbajo said.
He pointed out that, unless a clear paradigm shift is effected in correcting the present ills that are turning the hand of the clock backward the north would continue to into abyss of backwardness and degradation, positing that, no one could ever be safe with persistent insecurity taken a heavy toll on the region.
In his remarks, Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, extolled the sterling leadership qualities of the late Premier of the n6orthern region for standing to lead by example, devoid of primordial sentiment, affirming that, if not for what he had done to the region it would continue to remain at the lower rank of the ladder.
He said, the choice of Kano as the venue for memorial lecture was apt, considering the status of the state as a prominent commercial nerve center in the country, stressing that, his administration would remain on course and focus in effecting giant strides that would make the state to maintain the its position of a revered mega.
