*Commences strategic visits to former Heads of State, Leaders
Rising from a special meeting chaired by Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State, at the Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, Northern Democrats, a northern political movement, said the visits have become imperative to work on the problems of Northern unity, Security and leadership bedevilling the region.
However, NATIONAL PANEL learnt that the visits to the former Heads of State will also be about how to find solutions to the problems and a common front ahead of the next election.
A source said, “They need someone that will assist them to resolve the problems they are facing that have defied the last administrations. Especially the insecurity that is threatening the fabric of the nation, the north in particular.
“The Region (north) will also need a unifying factor so that the people can come out with a unified front. That is what, among others, the Kaduna summit is set to produce,” he said.
The League, which has also fixed November for its planned Northern Nigerian Summit in Kaduna, has also constituted a standing Steering Committee and five Subcommittees aimed at driving the process.
A release made available to journalists after the meeting on Thursday explained that the approved summit has principally two main objectives.
“First is for it serve as a fulcrum around which to knit Northern unity, security and leadership and second, to proffer viable northern solutions to the existential challenges facing the northern region in three key areas disunity, insecurity and poverty.
“Undertaking high-level consultative visits to key stakeholders of the North, such as former presidents, traditional and religious leaders, business leaders, retired officials, both civilian and military, and others to court their buy-in to the League’s activities.”
The release signed by the Convener of LND, Umar Ardo, and Hon. Emmanuel Jime, Secretary, said the new committees established during the Abuja meeting were, the Standing Steering Committee chaired by Sen. Ibrahim Ida with Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Bio from Kwara State as Deputy Chairman.
Others are Contact and Mobilization, chaired by Dr. Ja’afar Bello Dambazau from Kano state; Programs Planning & Logistics, chaired by Alh. Danjuma Ibrahim from Sokoto state; Media & Publicity, chaired by Dr. Ladan Salihu from Bauchi state; Intelligence & Security, chaired by AVM Monday Morgan from Benue state; and Events and Protocol, chaired by Amb. Mohammed Hassan from Borno state.
The group also confirmed the leadership of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Kano State, as its substantive chairman and Hon. Emmanuel Jime, former Honorable Member of the House of Representatives from Benue State, as its substantive secretary.
