Northern Govs, royal fathers set up committee on restructuring, other national issues

The 19 Northern States have taken first major step in preparation for possible restructuring of the country.

The State governors and Chairmen of councils of traditional rulers Council from the states set up a high-powered committee to collate the views and comments of the people of the North-West , North-Central and North-East geo-political zones ahead of any conference on the restructuring.

The establishment of the panel is one of the highlights of the communiqué issued on Friday by the governors and traditional rulers at a meeting in Kaduna.

The committee is headed by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Other members of the committee are the governors of Nassarawa, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi and Kaduna States as well as the Emirs of Kano, Zazzau and Gumel as well as the Etsu Nupe, Gbong Gwomg Jos.

The Deputy Governor of Plateau State will serve as secretary of the committee.

The communique was signed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima but read to journalists by Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.

According to the governors, the setting up the committee is now necessary as the agitation for restructuring has assumed different meanings to different people.

The committee is expected to come up with acceptable, tenable and sustainable position for the Northern region in consonance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)

But the agitation for restructuring of the country has been on the rise lately with some Nigerians accusing the North of being afraid of such an exercise.

The communique also condemned the recent bloody attacks in Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna and other places.

They promised to take decisive measures to put an end to frequent herdsmen and farmers clashes in the region, but warned against hate speeches in the country.

The governors and the royal fathers also asked community and opinion leaders, as well as political office holders to “be circumspect and use tact and finesse in their comments on national issues or conflict situations and refrain from making inflammatory statements especially through the social media that may create tension in the polity or threaten the unity if the nation.”

They also called on the federal government to “strengthen the capability of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies with adequate funding and logistical requirements to enable them perform their statutory mandate in a more effective and efficient manner.”

The communique further stated that, ” It is also pertinent that, funds and operational equipment allocated to our security agencies, cascade down to all the various command structures at the state level. This will improve their ability to effectively check security challenges”.

The governors and royal fathers urged the FG to relinquish forest reserves to their domiciled states for better management and proper security coverage, saying increasing rate of armed banditry in the region to caused mainly by the inability of FG to leave it for states hosting them.