The Northern Traditional Council under the chairmanship of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has warned that with challenges of insecurity, poverty and rising rate of unemployment in Nigeria, North in particular, the country was sitting on a keg of gunpowder, ready to explode any moment soon, if urgent solutions were not proffered.
Speaking yesterday at the Arewa House, Kaduna, during the 6th executive committee meeting of the Council, the Sultan told the Federal Government that traditional rulers, and religious leaders, as well as state governors have been pacifying the masses, and the jobless youths from revolting against political leaders at the helm of affairs.
The warning is coming barely three days after the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, asked the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to tell her husband, President Bola Tinubu, about the high level of hunger, starvation and anger in the country.
He also urged her to tell Tinubu to address insecurity, saying, “The issue of insecurity is another serious problem we are facing. I know your government inherited it, but something more serious should be done to take care of the threats.”
However, the Sultan captioned that though they (tadeonal rulers) had been pacifying the people, the situation was getting to a level where the traditional leaders “could no longer pacify the people from revolting against the government and political leaders, who are supposed to find solutions to their lingering socio-economic problems.”
He emphasized “let’s not take it for granted that people are quiet; they are quiet for a reason- because people have been talking to them. “We have been talking to them, trying to tell them that things will be be okay and they keep on believing. I pray to Almighty Allah that they will not one day wake up and say we no longer believe in you, because that would be the biggest problem. We can’t quieten these people as traditional rulers, spiritual leaders and diplomats forever.
“We have reached that level, people are very agitated, hungry, and angry, but they still believe there are people who can talk to them. They believe in some of their governors, traditional rulers and religious leaders; fortunately, some of us double as traditional and religious leaders.
“So, we have this onerous task of reaching out to everybody, calming them down and assuring them things will be okay, and that they should continue to pray and still do something good, because prayer without work will not bring anything.
“To make matters worse, we are faced with the rising level of poverty of most of our people; lack of normal sources of livelihood by the common man to have even a good meal a day.”
He continued “But I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is okay. I have said so many times, and at so many fora, that things are not okay in Nigeria, and of course, things are not okay in the North.
“What are the real issues bringing about poverty and rising cases of insecurity? I don’t think it is the issue of the new government. To me, this government is a continuation of the former government; it is the same party. So, what really is the problem? I think that is one of the reasons we are here to talk to ourselves. “
Sultan maintained “We owe it a duty to the teeming millions of people that believe in the traditional institution, to bring solutions to various problems facing them. We will not fail in doing that. We will do our best.
“We must find jobs for our teeming youths, who are sitting idle, and I have said it so many times that we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder, having teeming youths, millions of them, without jobs, and food. We are looking for trouble.
“But we thank Allah we believe in ourselves; we believe in Almighty Allah to bring succor to all our problems, and we will keep praying and urging our political leaders, who we believe will do something better.
“We are only advisers to the political leaders, that is all we can do. But, if we are empowered, we can also do a lot.
“However, we are ready to work with the Governors, because we believe in them. We believe in what they are doing and must work with them. And if the Governors too want to have peace and stability in their states, they must work with the traditional leaders.
“We are gathered here again for the sole purpose of looking at the issue troubling our dear Northern states. We also invited the security chiefs, the IGP, Chief of Defense Staff, and DG, DSS to be with us, and interact with us because of our concern for the rising insecurity in the North, in particular.
“We have had such meetings before with the Northern Governors, so many times at Kashim Ibrahim House. We have entered into a new cycle of leadership, some new Governors have come on board, while some are having their second term, but still, we are faced with these insecurity issues.
“I have said so many times, that we never lacked solution to our problems, what we lack is implementation, because we meet today, we bring out so many beautiful ideas on how to solve our problems, we go back to our various places and go to bed, leaving such solutions here in this conference hall. So, how do we implement them?
“This is why we invited the leadership of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) to come and interact with us on the outcome of a similar meeting they organized in Abuja. We invited the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to be part of us and talk to us as elders that have been in politics and done a lot for the North and the country. At the end of the meeting, we believe we will come up with various suggestions on how to resolve our numerous problems in the North.
“Education is important, so whatever issue you want to bring to us here, you must talk about education. You must also talk about health issues and about the two monsters that have been harassing all of us here, that is insecurity and poverty.
“So, I think it’s good we talk about these things and let us be very honest with ourselves, let us be very frank about what we are going to tell ourselves here; it is no time to hide things.
“I believe at the end of this meeting, we should have very good suggestions to our political leaders, and to our security chiefs, such that when implemented, we will have a better North, and at the same time, a better Nigeria,” Alhaji Abubakar said.