The governors also said the security challenge as a result of Boko Haram attacks in the region had paralysed the socio-political activities to the detriment of their yearning for development.
The Chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, spoke for his colleagues in Abuja on Wednesday at the inauguration of the region’s Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security.
The governors, however, said the recurring insecurity in the zone must be seen as a threat to national stability, unity and progress.
“The decision to constitute this committee of eminent Nigerians of northern states extraction was borne out of the deep concern of the Forum over recurring incidents of violence and wanton destruction of lives and properties which have almost crippled the economy of the northern states and paralysed socio-political activities to the detriment of our development and national pride.
“Hence, our focus has remained the promotion of the peace, unity and progress of all the northern states within the wider national interest of Nigeria.
“It is against this background that the Forum views the recurring insecurity challenges in the northern states and around the country as serious threats to national stability, unity and development.
“We therefore believe that the nation’s security and stability are of paramount interest to the Nigerian populace and that it is our moral obligation to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of all citizens of this country resident in our states,” the governor said.
He told members of the committee that most of the challenges facing the zone, including poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness and violence, were manifestation of rejection of core values of honesty, equity, fairness and justice in their communities.
Governor Babangida said one of the problems facing the leaders from the zone was that “we have allowed greed, corruption and incompetence to overwhelm us over time.”
The governors, however, said the recurring insecurity in the zone must be seen as a threat to national stability, unity and progress.
“The decision to constitute this committee of eminent Nigerians of northern states extraction was borne out of the deep concern of the Forum over recurring incidents of violence and wanton destruction of lives and properties which have almost crippled the economy of the northern states and paralysed socio-political activities to the detriment of our development and national pride.
“Hence, our focus has remained the promotion of the peace, unity and progress of all the northern states within the wider national interest of Nigeria.
“It is against this background that the Forum views the recurring insecurity challenges in the northern states and around the country as serious threats to national stability, unity and development.
“We therefore believe that the nation’s security and stability are of paramount interest to the Nigerian populace and that it is our moral obligation to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of all citizens of this country resident in our states,” the governor said.
He told members of the committee that most of the challenges facing the zone, including poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness and violence, were manifestation of rejection of core values of honesty, equity, fairness and justice in their communities.
Governor Babangida said one of the problems facing the leaders from the zone was that “we have allowed greed, corruption and incompetence to overwhelm us over time.”
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