Senator Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, has noted that the North will not reach its potentials until it tackles the menace of insecurity and economic deterioration.
The former governor of Gombe State made this known during the public presentation of a book themed, ‘Insecurity and Economy of Northern Nigeria in the 21st Century and Beyond: A Festschrift in Honour of Professor Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed’, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja.
The book, written and compiled in honour of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Abuja, Professor Ahmed Madibno, was edited by Professor Maiyaki Mejida of the Nasarawa State University.
Goje noted that the menace of insecurity in the form of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism initially started with the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, but has now expanded to cover not only Northern Nigeria, but almost the entire country.
He said, “The North will never find its feet without tackling these twin evils. All the cries about democracy and development cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of general and widespread insecurity as presently obtained in almost all the nooks and corners of northern Nigeria.
“This book will surely and greatly assist in curbing the prevailing general insecurity and economic decline in northern Nigeria.”
Also, the Senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial District, Gabriel Suswam, noted that the issues of security have become the concern of every Nigerian, adding that it was not limited to a particular region.
“Security has become a cause of concern for all Nigerians, and it is not limited to any particular region, state. We are all concerned about it”. Suswam said.
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, also noted that the title of the book could not have come at a better time than now.
Ahmed challenged everyone present at the occasion to see the opportunity to make sure that they rediscover themselves and become honest and support the nation’s politicians, guide them and make sure that the country does not go haywire in their hands.
He said, “If we are serious, if we believe in one another to do the right thing – the correct thing at the correct time – northern Nigeria will be more than transformed to redeem its image of being the most accommodating region in the world.”
