A Northern Elders Forum member, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has advised the Coalition of Northern Groups not to remain silent whenever they perceive any injustice against the region.
He also urged the coalition to cultivate the values of utilising all options when dealing with challenges.
Mr Baba-Ahmed made the call on Monday in Kano at the inauguration of the North West Students’ Wing of Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG.
According to him, there are voices from some other Nigerians hinting that northerners are poor leaders because they have spectacularly failed to deal with Northern problems, not to mention national issues.
“These murmurs hints at the imperative of denying northerners national leadership position in future elections.
“Therefore, rise up to counter these damaging insinuations by demanding that elected leaders of the North respond to the basic challenges facing the north today,” he stressed.
He told the youths that it is important to identify with the region and show interest and concern in the things that concerns the North without reluctance or shame.
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“As the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello once said, it is neither possible nor necessary to forget our differences as Nigerians, although we also have to remember the important things we share in common.
“You are northerners with history, strengths, endowments and challenges that are peculiar to being northern in the same manner southern communities have peculiar problems,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed, who is also the Chairman, Desmims Independent Television, DITV, and Alheri Radio Kaduna added that the north has what it takes to be great, and it is only as weak as it allows itself to be.
He therefore called on the youths to walk tall and own up to their legacies, reminding them that unity is the foundation of corporate existence, and they should respect other Nigerians.
Mr Baba-Ahmed, a visiting lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Base University and National Institute for Legislative Studies and Democracy tasks the northern youths to challenge leaders that do not live up to expectations.
Also the Chairman of the occasion and former presidential candidate of defunct National Republican Convention, NRC, Bashir Tofa, said the North has never agitated for the breakup of the country, hence, has no any plan in the event of any breakup.
“The North is the pillar that supports all parts of the country, boasting that any attempt to pull out from the pillar could warrant the collapse of the nation.
“Even if other regions pull out from the federation, North would certainly not be affected in view of its cultural and religious background,” Mr Tofa said.
He advised Northerners to exercise patience in building the unity of the country, as they are the root of country’s unity.
NAN
