National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi yesterday said Nigeria would be better off if it stays united because each region has a role to play for the prosperity of the nation.
"Nigeria is better off together than in isolation from each other region. The achievement of prosperity is easier when we pursue it collectively," Azazi said in a keynote address at the Northern Transformation and Empowerment Impact Summit in Kaduna yesterday.
Azazi was represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Intelligence, Professor Soji Adelaja.
He said the progress of Northern Nigeria was important for Nigeria to advance and compete favourably in the global community.
"While many may not fully appreciate the magnitude of the challenges of dealing with security issues that plague us, General Azazi certainly does. Many people wish that there is quick fix of the security challenges but all most understand that no magic wand can make up for long-term failure of our nation to be proactive and anticipatory about terrorism," he said.
"We cannot as a nation to leave any region behind. Some of the root causes of unrest and the feeling of dissatisfaction among citizens are economic hardship and the lack of economic opportunity. This is the case not only in the North, but all over Nigeria," he added.
Also speaking, Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa said it was regrettable that the North with all its landmass and natural resources has been unable to turn such advantages into economic development.
The governor, represented by his commissioner of Economic Planning Timothy Gandu, said, "The incongruity in the whole situation is that the North seems to be rather leading in poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and only recently insecurity."
He added: "The security challenge is threatening the stability, growth, unity and economic boost that we all crave for in the North are precariously dangling before our eyes and I am urging you to firmly take them and ensure that the drift in certain sectors of the region is halted."
Fist republic minister, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, said justice and fair play were the solution to the insecurity in the North.
"We started very well in the North with good leaders that work for all. The North of everybody, the North of Muslims and Christians. For peace to reign, there must be justice. Justice is what brings peace, justice is what bring about development. Behind every crisis, there is injustice," he said.
Former military administrator of Kaduna State, Colonel Hameed Ali, said for the North to address the present challenges, disunity among the people must be addressed.
"We are facing these challenges because we are not united and until will address this we will continue to have this problem," he said.
Declaring open the workshop, Vice President Namadi Sambo called on Nigerians to live in peace with one another. Sambo was represented by the Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.
Daily Trust
Yes, united would do a lot. However, if united isn't working, let the country divide in peace, instead of living in diversity, wrath, hunger, high unemployment rate, corruption, killing of innocent citizen, to mention a few.