The presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in last April’s general elections, Malam Nuhu Ribadu yesterday warned northern leaders to be conscious of the dire consequences ahead if they do not allow peace and development to prevail through good governance.
He said: “It is a shame that, today, our youths will wear suicide vests to go and kill themselves. This is a message to us: it is a rebellion and they are telling us that things are not right and it is time for us to wake up.”
This is even as a former minister and ex-legislator, Professor Jibril Aminu while delivering a paper at Arewa Peace Conference in Kaduna yesterday accused religious leaders of conniving with politicians to perpetrate injustice on the people through sectionalising their faith.
Aminu urged Christian and Muslim leaders to emulate Nigeria’s founding fathers and ensure that the people get good leadership from their elected leaders.
On his own part, Mallam? Ribadu asked current leaders of the north to give opportunity to the younger one to explore their potential.
He said:“We keep talking about Sardauna, Tafawa Balewa and the rest of them. They did a good job and showed the way to people who are our fathers today and left them with the responsibility of carrying on with the good work. Some of you did the job very well.
“We are here and have learnt from you and we believe that it is also our challenge today to continue with what you have started. Today, it is a modern world and a different world. It is not a world of the 1950s, 19602, 1970s or the 1980s.”
“Things have changed and we must take note of that. Let us understand that this north we are talking about today is a different one. We have new challenges that required new and modern approach and solutions.
“This generation of young northerners is asking for opportunity and chance to also play their role. Listen to them; listen to them. I am just coming from Afghanistan where I am working as a United Nations Monitor and I have seen what is going on there. We just have to wake.