The former minister of state for Health Architect Gabriel Aduku yesterday said the north cannot afford to make a wrong decision in electing the next president in 2023.
Speaking at a summit organised by the Centre for Northern Awareness and Development (CENAD) in Abuja yesterday, Aduku said Nigeria needs a true leader that will work for the people and reposition the country.
“We as Northerners must love ourselves as brothers and sisters.
In this election, may we do what is right and have a true leader that will work for the people and reposition Nigeria in such a way that development becomes part of everyone. Because today we have a Nigeria that is dangling seriously and I wish all those who have the courage and they are going to face these challenges, may God lead them to be successful and we hope they will be sincere in their leadership.
“To lead this country is a big challenge, let us go back to our roots and make the right decision, our wards, in the wards let us all go back home and make the difference, we cannot continue to wait for politicians, when we make the right decision in our localities things will be better.”
He commended CENAD to try and bring together stakeholders across the north and beyond towards charting a cause for a monolithic north.
He said the initiative coming at a time Nigeria is at the crossroads is laudable as the failure of the country to Conduct a successful election in 2023 and getting a leader that will tackle the challenges in the country will not be good enough.
Aduku said Northern Nigeria needs this type of gathering more because our earlier leaders have demonstrated that they meant well for this country and they died for this country.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Striving towards the restoration of a Monolithic North for Regional Economic Prosperity and Meaningful Growth,” Prof Ismail Aruwa, Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Striving towards the restoration of a Monolithic North for Regional Economic Prosperity and Meaningful Growth,” Convener and Chairman Board of Trustee (BoT) of CENAD, Ismail Aruwa said the body was put together in 2020, haven seen that the North which was seen then as a united monolithic under its past leaders, but now things have changed.
“I was challenged because these people achieved all that they did in their early thirties, but today many of them are approaching fifty years, and we are finding it difficult to make the right impact.
“Any society where there is no unity, no peace, there cannot be any meaningful growth. It is on that basis that we have put together this Center for Northern Awareness and Development (CENAD).
“We are looking at industrialization, youth empowerment, health, girl child education. We are concerned about the unity of the North.
“Under Sardaunan those days, decisions could easily be reached as a monolithic north, in the second Republic for example, it was not Shehu Shagari that was gunning to be president, it was Maitama Sule, but when he was impressed upon in the best interest of the North he jettison the his own ambition and supported the popular choice which was Shagari.
“In the recent PDP convention, Atiku was in the race, Tambuwal was in the race, but because of that unity of purpose. Leaders impressed it on the Tambuwal who even though it was not easy for him, did it in the best interest of the North that brought Atiku up as the candidate.
“I still believe that when the time comes Northern leaders will key behind one of the most acceptable candidates they feel can win the election, to be supported in 2023. North will provide that leadership necessary to make sure that the best person that can represent their interests will be supported,” he said.
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