The Chairman, Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lll, on Wednesday, called on the federal government to take urgent steps to bring Nigeria from the brink of anarchy and doom as he decried the deteriorating socio-economic as well as insecurity ravaging the country.
Abubakar spoke while addressing his colleagues at the 6th Executive Committee Meeting of the council with the theme: ‘Enhanced Security as a panacea for stability and development of the North,’ held at the Arewa House, Kaduna.
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Abubakar noted that, with the current downturn of the economy which has inflicted untold hardship on on Nigerians, all was not okay with Nigeria, especially the north.
He also said the nation was sitting on a keg of gunpowder with millions of Nigerians without jobs and food.
“It is getting to a level that traditional leaders could no longer pacify the people from revolting against government and political leaders that supposed to find solutions to their lingering socio-economic plight,” he said.
“And let’s not take it for granted; people are quiet, they are quiet for a reason, because people have been talking to them.; we have been talking to them, we have been trying to tell them things will be be okay and they keep on believing. I pray to Almighty Allah that they will not one day wake up and say we no longer believe in you. Because that would be the biggest problem, because we can’t quieten these people as traditional, spiritual leaders and diplomats forever.”
“We have reached that level, people are very agitated, people are hungry, they are angry, but they still believe there are people who can talk to them, they believe in some of their Governors, some other traditional rulers and some of their religious leaders, fortunately some of us double as traditional and religious leaders.”
“So, we have this onerous task of reaching out to everybody, calm them down and assure them things would be okay, and they should continue to pray and pray and still do something good, because prayer without work will not bring anything.”
“To make matters worse, we are faced with rising level of poverty of most of our people; lack normal sources of livelihood by the common man to have even a good meal a day.”
“But, I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is okay. I have said it so many times and at so many fora that, things are not okay in Nigeria and of course, things are not okay in the North.”
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“What are the real issues bringing about poverty and rising cases of insecurity? I don’t think it is the issue of new government. To me, this government is a continuation of the former government; it is the same party. So, what really is the problem? I think that is one of the reasons we are here to talk to ourselves.”
“We owe it a duty to the teeming millions of people that believe in the traditional institution, to bring solution to the various problems facing them. We will not fail in doing that. We will do our best.”
Sunday Igboho reacts
Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Thursday, took on the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, contending that the nation’s twin challenges of insecurity and poverty cannot be resolved overnight.
He emphasised that relevant stakeholders in governance, economy, security and other critical sectors should be committed to finding ways round the insecurity challenge and socioeconomic obstacles for Nigeria to achieve peace and steady development.
In a statement he personally signed, in reaction to the position of Mr Abubakar on the prevalent hardship and spate of insecurity in some parts of the country, Mr Adeyemo stressed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration should be allowed to work out solutions capable of addressing the situation
However, Mr Adeyemo posited that the Sultan’s position on the current state of the nation was not out of place, but maintained that the blame of bad economy, perennial insecurity problem, food inflation, unemployment and youth restiveness should not be heaped on Tinubu’s administration, which is just about eight months old.
According to the statement, “it is important for our leaders at all levels, be it religious or traditional, to demonstrate commitment to bringing solutions to the table at this crucial point in our history. Our problems as a nation are foundational.
“Nigeria had been in a precarious state in terms of bad governance, poor economy, terrorism, insecurity, irresponsive leadership for decades. I believe that the Federal Government is not unconcerned about the plight of the people and has taken steps to remedy the situation.”
Mr Adeyemo noted that while the nation could not gloss over the incessant attacks by rampaging herdsmen on farmlands, most especially during the immediate past regime of former President Muhammadu Buhari, thus forcing thousands of farmers to abandon farm settlements, it is thoughtful to say that the effect of farmers/herders’ clash, leading to killings, destruction of farms has been devastating on food production and agriculture value chain.
“This worrisome development has been one of the major causes of food insecurity and increase in prices of food items and commodities. We need to allow the incumbent administration to explore all measures being deployed to address inflation, foreign exchange issues, exorbitant foodstuff prices, which will soon yield results.
“The recent decision by the government to deploy troops for the protection of farmers against herders’ attacks, which are negatively affecting harvest and food productivity will further boost the confidence of peasant farmers and agric entrepreneurs to return to farms. Also, the plan to set up the National Commodity Board will checkmate escalating food inflation,” the statement added.
