News Investigators/ The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, on Saturday urged Northern leaders and stakeholders to strengthen unity as well as deepen collaboration to address insecurity and other challenges confronting the region.
He made the call at the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.
Mr Jibrin congratulated the ACF on its Silver Jubilee and commended its contributions to peace, development and national discourse since its establishment.
He also paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the forum, including those who had passed on.
Mr Jibrin said although recent trend analyses had painted a worrying picture of the region’s future, such conclusions do not reflect the resilience and strength that have sustained the North and Nigeria through previous crises.
He stated that insecurity and other challenges facing the North were part of a wider global pattern affecting countries like Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Benin Republic.
Mr Jibrin said the ACF was established to help the region find solutions to its challenges and stressed the need for leaders to work together.
“We must come together and confront the major issues affecting our region,” he said.
The deputy senate president recalled that coordinated action had helped reduce earlier security problems in the Northwest, saying similar efforts could produce results across the North.
He added that the region was fortunate to have key national leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives and senior federal officials, who were committed to supporting Northern interests.
He said President Bola Tinubu had consistently listened to and supported issues brought forward by Northern leaders.
Mr Jibrin urged the stakeholders to take advantage of the rising revenues and opportunities within the National Assembly to enhance security funding and interventions.
He disclosed that the speaker and himself had agreed to engage Governors, traditional leaders and ACF executives soon to review key issues affecting Northern Nigeria and chart new strategies.
“If other regions have succeeded, we too can succeed,” he said.
Mr Jibrin dismissed gloomy predictions about the North, stating that the region’s resilience, strength and work ethics would drive prosperity, if the leaders work together.
He urged the ACF to continue convening fora and involving key policymakers.
“Invite us. We can help. We can influence funding. We can give weight to these initiatives,” Jibrin said.
He added that the region had capable leadership at the federal level, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and several Ministers, and stressed the need to leverage these strengths.
Mr Jibrin congratulated the ACF and Northern Nigeria on the Silver Jubilee celebration and reaffirmed the Senate’s readiness to partner with the forum in advancing peace and development.
NAN