Yakubu Dogara (file image)
Dogara: North cannot continue running therapy session with hope to experience prosperity, devt
By Ahmed Ahmed
Nigeria’s former Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has blamed leaders in Northern Nigeria for the underdevelopment in the region.
Dogara wondered why the North would continue to run a therapy session for pyromaniacs, while at the sametime hoping for the prosperity and development of the region.
Dogara made the assertion at August talkshop put together by Zaar Youths Development Association (ZAYODA), Abuja branch in Abuja.
“We cannot lose the battle against violence and still keep our civilization since the state controls the coercive apparatus.
“Our collective demand to governments at all levels must be to free the North of all forms of violence.
“If we achieve this, we have found the solution to our most urgent problems.
“If we know how important this fight is, we will prevail on the Federal Government and State Governments to deploy all resources accruing to the North in the fight against terror and in rooting out general insecurity from the region,” the former lawmaker said.
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Dogara reiterated that instead of states building flyovers in a region witnessing unremitting blood letting, the resources should be channeled to securing the region and where a state cannot achieve much.
“They can form zonal alliances and deploy resources in the fight against terror until victory is won,” he said.
Dogara also urged youth leaders across ethnic and religious lines to learn to build networks for them to be of any help in the efforts to combat insecurity in the North.
“We have a model in Zaar land that is working.
“Talking about the peace committee between the Zaar and the Fulanis in Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro LGAs of Bauchi State which has ensured that for more than a decade now, no crisis has erupted in this area that was a national flash point and a seat of bedlam.
“By networking with others, youth leaders from our community can share the success story of this alliance with their counterparts thereby enabling others to replicate it across communities in the North.
“If you have to get healed, you have to endure the pain and that life will never stop to accommodate your comfort, that true greatness means love, humility,” he said.
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