Former Vice President Namadi Sambo and former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd.), have hailed the creation of the League of Northern Democrats (LND) as a timely and strategic platform to address the numerous challenges confronting the North and the country at large.
Sambo, speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the LND, led by its Chairman, former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, at his residence in Abuja, expressed deep concern about the deteriorating state of security in the North. He emphasized how insecurity has severely impacted agriculture, threatened education, and compromised healthcare for women and children, exacerbating poverty and inequality across the region and the country.
“It is very worrisome to note how insecurity has crippled agriculture, while threatening the education and health of our children and women. These issues have continued to widen the net of poverty and inequality among the people of the North, and indeed, the entire country,” Sambo said.
The former Vice President expressed full support for the initiative, urging the forum to focus on leveraging the experiences and resources of its members to meet the aspirations of the people. “Irrespective of our political backgrounds, we must collaborate and utilize our collective experiences to engender sustainable peace and socio-economic development,” he added.
In a separate letter addressed to the group’s Convener, Dr. Umar Ardo, General Dambazau highlighted the urgent need for coordinated efforts to tackle the escalating issues plaguing the North.
“The deteriorating conditions in Northern Nigeria—including insecurity, banditry, illiteracy, endemic poverty, drug abuse, the proliferation of arms, and the collapse of institutions—require urgent and coordinated action,” Dambazau stated.
He commended the group’s commitment and noted that the LND offers a unique opportunity to unite leaders and stakeholders to address these challenges and reposition the North for a more prosperous future. Dambazau pledged his active participation in the group’s activities aimed at resolving the region’s pressing concerns.
The League of Northern Democrats, convened by elder statesman Dr. Umar Ardo, was recently launched at a meeting attended by key Northern elites. The group appointed former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, as its protem Chairman, and former House of Representatives member, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, as Secretary, along with other prominent Northern Nigerians.
The LND is scheduled to hold a historic summit in Kaduna in October 2024, with Vice President Kashim Shettima expected to attend. According to its Convener, the LND is non-partisan and not aligned with any ethnic or religious affiliations. Its mission is to support the government in addressing critical issues facing the Northern states, including insecurity, poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and the growing problem of drug addiction among the youth.
