We’re poised for Nigeria’s unity, northern governors pledge

• Ganduje seeks trial of actors of Abia’s debacle
Northern governors have restated their stance for the unity of Nigeria, saying the citizenry would be better under an indivisible entity.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who made the pledge after a closed-door meeting between northern state chief executives and traditional rulers yesterday in Kaduna, urged for restraint.

The governor, who doubles as chairman of the forum’s technical committee on restructuring said: “ Violence does no good to anybody, not to talk of a country of ours. And if we have a great nation like Nigeria, we remain committed to her unity.”

He noted that the committee was empanelled to brainstorm on constitutional reform, fiscal federalism, national minimum wage, among others.

Tambuwal said: “We agreed that the technical committee should work on the previous documents, conferences and position papers and then come back to us within three weeks. Thereafter, every state would conduct a public hearing. We will meet on October 24 to review all that.

“So, by the end of October, God willing, we shall be able to get back to the larger body of the northern governors and northern traditional leaders’ forum and council so that we can collate and subject issues brought by the technical committee to a very robust debate across the north and the outcome would be presented to the governors and monarchs.”

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, reiterated their commitment to the indivisibility of the country.

However, Governor Abdullahi Umar Gandje has called on the Federal Government to investigate the alleged invasion of the country home of the leader of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in Umuahia, Abia State and other anomalies in parts of the South East.

Speaking yesterday when he received a coalition of northern groups in Kano, he insisted that if punitive measures were not adopted, the incident would further breed lawlessness in the land.

He said: “I believe that two wrongs cannot make a right. So, all we need is peaceful co-existence that would lead to the rapid development of the country. Let me also salute the efforts of your groups in managing the tension. It is a patriotic act.”

Ganduje continued: ‘’I am not surprised because you have been and still demonstrating that your coalition believes in one Nigeria as well in President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability to stabilise the nation.”