Shekarau proffers measure to address security challenges in northwestern states
By Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu. On Oct 23, 2024
The League of Northern Democrats has pledged to tackle the pressing issues of unity in Northern Nigeria and the country at large.
The Democracy Newsline reports that the League of Northern Democrats was established with the aims to bring together a diverse coalition of Northern elites, including former governors, senators, business leaders, academics and religious leaders.
Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State and a strong member of the League expressed the commitment on Monday during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily program.
Shekarau emphasized that the league will also focus on education, the economy, and insecurity.
“We are addressing these issues ourselves, rather than waiting for the government,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, he recalled, “There was a time when we were one community, one people, despite our ethnic differences.”
He voiced concerns over the escalating insecurity in the Northwest, particularly in states like Sokoto and Zamfara, and called for greater regional collaboration.
Shekarau criticized the current approach, where each state independently invests in security personnel and vigilante groups, rather than uniting efforts.
“But you see, every state is doing its own thing when it comes to security,” he remarked.
“Zamfara is following one approach, Kebbi another, and Kaduna yet another. No borders are stopping the criminals from moving across states. If they are chased out of Sokoto, they run to Zamfara; if they are pushed out of Zamfara, they flee to Katsina or Kaduna.”
Shekarau urged the Federal Government to step in and bring the governors of these states together to address the crisis more effectively.
While acknowledging the military deployment to Sokoto after the killing of the Emir of Gobir, he questioned why no steps were taken to prevent the bandits from fleeing to other states.
“What measures did the Federal Government put in place to ensure that, once the bandits were flushed out, they didn’t simply move to other states?” Shekarau asked.
