Former Vice President Namadi Sambo and former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahaman Bello Dambazau (retired )have described the formation of League of Northern Democrats (NLD) as timely and a veritable platform to galvanize efforts at addressing the numerous challenges facing the North and the Country in general.
Namadi Sambo, while hosting the leadership of the League led by its chairman, former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, said at his residence said ”It is very worrisome to note how insecurity has crippled agriculture, while threatening education and health of our children and women, and these have continued to widen the net of poverty and inequality among people of the north and indeed the entire country”.
The former VP who identified with and fully committed to supporting the initiative, tasked the forum to ensure that “Irrespective of our political lineage, we must continue to leverage on our respective experiences and resources to play our part in order to meet the aspirations of our people while engendering sustainable peace and socio-economic development”. He added.
In a separate letter of appreciation to group, addressed to its convener, Dr. Umar Ardo, former Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulrahaman Dambazau said ” The deteriorating conditions in the whole of northern Nigeria, which include insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, endemic poverty, Drug abuse, proliferation of Arms and collapse of our institutions, require urgent and coordinated action”.
While appreciating the efforts and commitment of the Group towards tackling the challenges facing the region, Dambazau said “The LND presents an opportunity to galvanize the efforts of our leaders and stakeholders to address these challenges and reposition the North for a more prosperous future”.
He promised to participate in groups activities geared towards addressing the concerns of the region.
The League of Northern Democrats convened by an elder statesman Dr. Umar Ardo was recently launched in a meeting attended by critical Northern Elites.
The Group appointed former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau as it’s protem Chairman and former House of Reps member, Hon. Emmanuel Jime as its secretary, amongst other eminent Northern Nigerians.
The group is Scheduled to hold a historic summit in Kaduna in October this year with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to be in attendance.
According to it’s Convener the LND is non aligned with any political party or ethnic or religious affiliations but that it came into being to help government tackle the myriad of challenges undermining the northern states such as insecurity, poverty, illiteracy, destitution, unemployment and the menace of drug addiction among the youths.