Shettima BLAMES POVERTY, GREED FOR WOES

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From ABDULL-AZEEZ AHMED KADIR, Kaduna
BORNO State Governor, Alhaji Shetima Kashim said bad leadership, greed, corruption and poverty among other were responsible for the security challenges the northern part of Nigeria now faces while his Kaduna State counterpart, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa said justice, equity and fairness to all will be a solution to the challenges.
The duo made these assertions yesterday in Arewa House at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna Council Round-Table organised to mark the on-going Press Week.
Shetima who was the Guest Speaker in paper with the theme; “Security Challenges in the North; causes and Solutions” remarked that until the causes of the security challenges that make some people take arm against the state are tackled, Nigeria may be sitting on a gunpowder.
The governor who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, said an average northerner has no business to be poor in the face of the enormous wealth, riches and human resources that abound.
He said that the region has more children of school age roaming the street without any plan on how to educate them.
The governor said the menace of Boko Haram is a sad reminder of the abject poverty among the masses in the face of the ostentatious life style of the wealthy.
Except and until the disconnect between the rich and the poor, the leader and the led are addressed, yawning gap between the various social strata, the issue of insurgency would be a recurring issue,” he warned.
Also speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, Governor Yakowa said conflict is a continuum which the society cannot do without.
He added that it is not the conflict that matters, but how the conflict is managed.
He stressed the need to be just to self, family and the larger society irrespective of religious, ethnic and political differences.
Yakowa who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Muhktar Ramalan Yero, said good governance would put an end to some of the conflicts in the society.
He added that, it is the resolve of the 19 Northern Governors that led to the setting up of the security committee whose report is being expected to be submitted in February, 2013 for action.