Former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has called for collective efforts toward tackling security challenges bedevilling the nation.
He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto as the world celebrates 2025 New Year.
Bafarawa, also a former presidential candidate, said the insecurity problem should not be a government business alone as all categories of people have roles to play to ending the menace.
He explained that “bandits and terrorists at different locations carry out their acts with the connivance of other people in our mids.
“Some play roles as informants, suppliers of fuel, food, motorcycles and other needs to the bandits and we all intaract with them.
“I am appealing to governments to implement budgetary allocations on security sector, because it is the backbone of all developments, without peaceful coexistence other sectors may not succeed.”
He urged government officials responsible for the implemention of policies to fear Allah and be transparent in all dealings for accelerated development, stressing that poor implementation had been the problem of many programmes.
He condemned the ultimatum given by notorious bandit, Bello Turji, adding that the bandit had started attacking people along Shinkafi axis of Zamfara.
Bafarawa also stressed the importance of empowering young people and giving them leadership opportunities under the mentorship of experienced elders.
He said that himself, along with other like-minds came up with a movement tagged ”Northern Star Youth Empowerment Initiative” to help the younger generation to participate in leadership.
He noted that the initiative was a youth-focused movement designed to address Northern Nigeria’s political and social challenges and people were involved, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
“A large proportion of the nation’s population are youths, mostly idle without requisite education and productive means of livelihoods.
“It is time for Nigerian youths to lead. If given the chance, they will perform better, especially with the guidance of elders.”
Bafarawa also explained that plans were underway to establish offices for the group across the region to foster unity and collaboration among Northern youths.
“The present digital generation and the older analogue generation must work together to achieve shared goals. We need each other to shape the nation.
“The movement is not in anyway rival group to any existing regional or nationwide association, our focus is to follow the footsteps of past leaders such as the late Sardauna of Sokoto and others alike who are still being celebrated, ” he added. (NAN)
