Northern Nigeria needs powerful supporters who would genuinely work to improve the region and protect its interests, according to former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
This statement was reportedly made by IBB on Wednesday when representatives of the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative, led by Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the former governor of Sokoto State and chairman of the organization’s board of trustees, visited his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.
IBB expressed his support for the movement and praised the initiative behind its creation.
He underlined that the North, especially at this point in Nigeria’s history, needs a movement of this kind supported by respectable people like Alhaji Bafarawa and the movement’s director general, Dr. Abdullahi Idris.
In order to protect the interests of the country and the northern region, he asked the Arewa cohesion officials to continue to be steadfast.
At a critical juncture when the region needs strong voices, the new advocacy group for northern unity and good governance has formed, the former military chief said.
The Arewa Cohesion Movement was founded because, according to Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the chairman of the board of trustees, the North needs a strong voice to protect its interests on matters of national importance.
Bafarawa: Nigerians Will Sleep Well If There Is Peace
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with IBB about the state of the country and the North’s future, Alhaji Bafarawa said that both the North and Nigeria urgently need peace and efficient democratic procedures to meet the needs of the people.
He underlined that blame for Nigeria’s problems cannot be placed on any one area and called on leaders and people to work together to improve the country.
We are here to inquire about our leader’s health, to find out how he is feeling, and to get his opinion on the state of affairs and how Nigeria should proceed.
So, it is our responsibility to see what we can do to help ourselves—not even to help the government. Peace will allow Nigerians to sleep soundly. In order to help the north and the nation as a whole progress, it is our responsibility to see what we can do.
After we explained the reason for our visit, he praised us and promised to continue guiding us in all that we do.
“We need peace and unity in this nation. And democracy is impossible without opposition. We must thus permit democracy to flourish. Therefore, I fail to see any justification for someone to claim that there is no opposition.
“I am currently on sabbatical. I’m still involved in politics. However, I am not a member of the APC, the PDP, or any other political party—not even the coalition movement—as of right now. In a way that makes sense to people, I am conducting my politics in a really constructive manner. Bafarawa stated, “Even if we are going to help anyone, you must come up with a plan to explain the issues to us so we can see how we can help and support you to advance our region and the nation.”
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“If your head or your eye is sick, it will affect all your body,” Bafarawa added, arguing that it is incorrect to attribute the nation’s problems to a specific area. No Nigerian can understand the foolishness of referring to the North or the South in this way. Regardless of our course of action, let us ensure that Nigeria is unified.
Dr. Abdullahi Idris, the Director General of Arewa Cohesion, said in his statement that the initiative’s goal is to advance development and unity in the North while making sure that the right policies are implemented to support the region’s advancement.
He stated that Nigerians are not happy with the current security issues, emphasizing the need for group efforts to establish positive improvements.
He thanked the previous president for his cooperation and support of the movement.
