Top northern leaders, including former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met Saturday in Abuja to discuss the state of the nation.
The meeting, which lasted for about two hours and was held behind closed doors, reviewed insecurity in the north occasioned by the unceasing terrorist attacks by Boko Haram and resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta, sources told THISDAY.The meeting also discussed politics, although it was not clear what the meeting termed ‘politics’, whether it had to do with 2015 general elections and the position of the north.Others issues discussed included religious tolerance, unemployment, poverty, clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the north and how to bring unity among various socio-political groups in the north.
According to a source, “The meeting discussed the resurgence of militant activities in the Niger Delta” and what it termed the conspiracy of ‘silence’ by security agencies. “We also discussed the great implications of violent militancy and ways of curbing it and how to move the country forward.” One of the sources said the north is worried about the plot to amend the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party by expanding the membership of its National Executive Committee. The decision to expand PDP NEC, sources said, might not be unconnected with the jostling for the 2015 general election. The planned expansion of the PDP NEC would result in the inclusion of 72 members of the National Assembly, comprising a senator and one member of the House of Representatives each from the 36 states of the federation in the party’s highest decision-making organ.
However, briefing reporters after the meeting convened by Nigeria’s former ambassador to the United States, Alhaji Maitama Sule, the spokesman of the group, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said the meeting discussed only two items: politics and insecurity.According to him, the meeting expressed worries about the security situation in Nigeria and proffered solutions on the way forward.It also set up two committees on insecurity and politics, with retired Air Vice Marshal Al-min Dagash heading the security committee.According to him, “The two committees are expected to present a report in the next three weeks.”
Besides Babangida, Abubakar and Atiku, others who attended the meeting were Sule, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Justice Mamman Nasir.Former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, was absent, though he was invited. He was said to have travelled abroad for medical treatment.A similar meeting last week by a northern group, Coalition of Concerned Northerners, led by Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, had set up 10 committees to work out modalities for improving security in the north and how to reposition the region in the rising demand for the restructuring of Nigeria.
The committees, which include the main Coordinating Committee, Security, Education, Economic Policy Framework, Inter-faith and Inter-community Harmony, Constitutional Amendment, Revenue and Fiscal, and Youths, were mandated to study the challenges facing the north as a prelude to restructuring Nigeria.According to a statement, members of the Coordinating Committee include the governors of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and his Niger State counterpart, Mu’azu Baba-ngida Aliyu. Other members are Senator John Wash Pam, Mahmud Yay-ale Ahmed, Mr. Mansur Ahmed.Members of the Economic Committee include Sanusi Abubakar as chairman, Professor. Mike Kwanashie, Mrs. Amina el-Zubair, Chief Audu Ogbe, Mallam Abba Kyari, Mallam Falalu Bello, Isa Tijjani, Mallam Mohammed Hay-atudeen and Mr. Haman Tukur, among others.
The meeting, which lasted for about two hours and was held behind closed doors, reviewed insecurity in the north occasioned by the unceasing terrorist attacks by Boko Haram and resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta, sources told THISDAY.The meeting also discussed politics, although it was not clear what the meeting termed ‘politics’, whether it had to do with 2015 general elections and the position of the north.Others issues discussed included religious tolerance, unemployment, poverty, clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the north and how to bring unity among various socio-political groups in the north.
According to a source, “The meeting discussed the resurgence of militant activities in the Niger Delta” and what it termed the conspiracy of ‘silence’ by security agencies. “We also discussed the great implications of violent militancy and ways of curbing it and how to move the country forward.” One of the sources said the north is worried about the plot to amend the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party by expanding the membership of its National Executive Committee. The decision to expand PDP NEC, sources said, might not be unconnected with the jostling for the 2015 general election. The planned expansion of the PDP NEC would result in the inclusion of 72 members of the National Assembly, comprising a senator and one member of the House of Representatives each from the 36 states of the federation in the party’s highest decision-making organ.
However, briefing reporters after the meeting convened by Nigeria’s former ambassador to the United States, Alhaji Maitama Sule, the spokesman of the group, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said the meeting discussed only two items: politics and insecurity.According to him, the meeting expressed worries about the security situation in Nigeria and proffered solutions on the way forward.It also set up two committees on insecurity and politics, with retired Air Vice Marshal Al-min Dagash heading the security committee.According to him, “The two committees are expected to present a report in the next three weeks.”
Besides Babangida, Abubakar and Atiku, others who attended the meeting were Sule, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Justice Mamman Nasir.Former Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, was absent, though he was invited. He was said to have travelled abroad for medical treatment.A similar meeting last week by a northern group, Coalition of Concerned Northerners, led by Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, had set up 10 committees to work out modalities for improving security in the north and how to reposition the region in the rising demand for the restructuring of Nigeria.
The committees, which include the main Coordinating Committee, Security, Education, Economic Policy Framework, Inter-faith and Inter-community Harmony, Constitutional Amendment, Revenue and Fiscal, and Youths, were mandated to study the challenges facing the north as a prelude to restructuring Nigeria.According to a statement, members of the Coordinating Committee include the governors of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and his Niger State counterpart, Mu’azu Baba-ngida Aliyu. Other members are Senator John Wash Pam, Mahmud Yay-ale Ahmed, Mr. Mansur Ahmed.Members of the Economic Committee include Sanusi Abubakar as chairman, Professor. Mike Kwanashie, Mrs. Amina el-Zubair, Chief Audu Ogbe, Mallam Abba Kyari, Mallam Falalu Bello, Isa Tijjani, Mallam Mohammed Hay-atudeen and Mr. Haman Tukur, among others.
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