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The Northern Nigeria Governors` Forum (NNGF) has attributed the country`s present challenges to the rejection of core values of honesty, fairness and justice in communities.
Dr Babangida Aliyu, Niger governor and Chairman of the forum, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while inaugurating the Northern States Governors` Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security.
``We have realised that most of the challenges we are facing of poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness and violence are manifestation of rejection of core values of honesty, fairness and justice in our communities, societies and indeed the nation.
``We have allowed greed, corruption and incompetence to overwhelm us overtime.’’ the governor said.
He said that it was time to restore the country`s lost values and virtue which previously distinguished its people from others as the most stable and orderly community with rich cultural diversity.
He further said the insecurity in the northern part of the country had become a threat to the stability of the country and should be given urgent attention.
The governor added that that it was the moral obligation of governors particularly in the north to ensure the protection of lives and property of their citizens.
``Securing our future as one united, indivisible and prosperous nation must be pursued with a sense of equity, fairness and justice,’’ the governors said.
This, he said, was reason the committee was being inaugurated to assist the forum in finding realistic and sustainable solution to the general insecurity problems afflicting the north and the country generally.
The governor noted that the violence and destruction of lives and property in the north was beginning to paralyse socio-political and economic activities in the region in spite of its endowment.
He said the need for tolerance, understanding and respect for one another irrespective of differences as antidote to restoring the country`s lost values and the restoration of peace.
He charged the newly inaugurated committee to synthesise reports of previous similar committee`s white papers with a view to giving actionable proposals.
The committee is to liaise with stakeholders of affected northern states to get to the root of the security challenges and proffer solutions.
It is also to dialogue with identified groups with a view to negotiating the way out of the menace while liaising with the Federal Government as well as deliberate on best approach to resolving the security challenges.
The committee was also mandated to work out modalities for reconciling warring parties and communities in the north.
It has Amb. Zakari Ibrahim as its Chairman while Nde Joshua Dimlong, the Ngolong Ngas and paramount ruler of the Angas tribe of Plateau would serve as its Deputy Chairman.
The committee which is expected to submit its report within 90 days from its inauguration also has Mr Iliya Ithuve and Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi as Secretary and Deputy Secretary respectively (NAN).
