•North West governors
Governors of the seven North West states yesterday shunned the stakeholders’ summit of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) held in Kaduna, opting instead to send representatives to the high-level meeting aimed at addressing the region’s persistent development challenges.
The summit, held at Musa Yar’adua hall Kaduna, brought together federal government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders to discuss strategies for tackling insecurity, unemployment, poverty and infrastructure decay across the North West, reports Sunday Trust.
Although all the seven states – Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara – were represented by senior government officials, the absence of the governors themselves did not go unnoticed and became a subject of concern after comments by former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed.
“Honestly, it is not right for seven governors from the region that keep saying they have been left behind and neglected, yet here we are in Kaduna for a summit and not a single one of the seven governors from the region is present,” Baba Ahmed said.
“This is not an insult, but we do not know their excuses; the fact remains that none of them is here.”
Baba Ahmed questioned the effectiveness of the commission’s engagement with the states in the absence of the governors, who he noted remain the highest political authorities and principal drivers of development policies in their respective states.
“This North West Commission who will they work with if there is no governor here? There is no one to listen to what is presented, and they will not know where or how to work with them,” he said.
He further noted that the situation undermined repeated complaints by leaders in the region about marginalisation and neglect, arguing that development could not be achieved without the active presence of elected leaders.
“If we in the North say we have been left behind and neglected, how can progress be achieved when our leaders are not present?” Baba Ahmed asked.
“For now, our governors are our leaders, and yet here we are in Kaduna to discuss our problems and offer advice, but not one of the governors is present. Truly, they have not done well for us.”
Despite his criticism of the governors’ absence, Baba Ahmed expressed appreciation to the Commission for convening the summit in Kaduna.
“As for the Commission members, we thank them for coming and we wish them well,” he said.
In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, represented by his deputy, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, noted that the North-West geopolitical zone has the potential to become a hub of agricultural productivity, agro-processing, commerce and skilled labour.
The governor advised that the summit must go beyond diagnosis.
‘’Our people are not short of reports; they are short of results,’’ he pointed out, urging the summit ‘’to focus on actionable roadmaps, clear timelines, and measurable outcomes.’’
Governor Sani also advised the gathering to ‘’identify areas for immediate collaboration. Clarify the roles of federal, regional, and state actors. Establish mechanisms for accountability and learning.’’
Former Vice President Namadi Sambo, ACF BOT Chairman and others all spoke at the summit, calling on the commission to focus on the region’s development for the benefit of the people at the grassroots.
