As North marks 56th anniversary of self rule

The venue was the famous Arewa House. The date was 14th March, 2015. The occasion was the 56th anniversary of the attainment of self government from the British Colonial rule. It was the day the North was allowed to take over the reins of governance and the ceremony took place in Sokoto on the same spot the 15th March, 1903 defeat of Sokoto Jihad took place.
The organisers of the event were the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Arewa House, Centre for Historical Documentation and Research. Eminent personalities were in attendance among whom were former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, represented by Alhaji Ahmed Joda; Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, represented by Kaduna State governor, Alh Muktar Ramalan Yero; the Sultan of Sokoto, represented by the Emir of Bida, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Senate President, Mr David Mark, represented by Senator Abdul Ningi as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alh Aminu Tambuwal and elder statesman, Danmanin Kano, Alhaji Bello Maitama, represented by Professor Ango Abdullahi.

The guest speaker, Alhaji Mustapha Akanbi and a host of other important personalities from the 19 northern states, graced the occasion. The theme of the event was “The North and the Nigerian Federation: Past, Present and Future”.

In his opening remarks, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, noted that the North had lost its glory. He said the region was no longer the peaceful, great and economically buoyant one.

Gowon charged the gathering not to use the occasion as a ‘talk shop’, but rather put in place measures that would start addressing the plight of the North.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Alhaji Bello Danmasani Kano blamed the woes in the region on the failure of leadership to follow the example of the Premier of Northern Region, Late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

According to him, the late premier saw wisdom in pursuing both economic and political policies that propelled the region to greatness. He said the ‘industrialisation policy’ of the Northern Region led to the employment of thousands of youths as well as the training of many Northerners to acquire degrees. Danmasani argued that at the same time, the premier was providing the enabling ground for every tribe and member of various religious faiths to partake in governance.

However, he contended that the situation in the region had left much to be desired as most of these industries had collapsed forcing thousands of people out of work, dividing the region, and making it a place where insurgency flourished.

Both the Senate President, David Mark and Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, in their separate speeches, were optimistic that the problems confronting the region would be addressed in no distant time because the region was and is still a stabilising factor for a united Nigeria.

However, Chairman of the ACF, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, was rather blunt when he said Arewa must wake up from its slumber to start the rebuilding process.

According to him, ‘we don’t have time to wait. It is better we start now or never.

Coomasie, who was one time former Inspector General of Police(IGP), suggested that all the 19 governors in the region should declare 15th March every year as public holiday. He said this was necessary as it would remind us of our past which would make us start doing the right thing for the future.