Northern govs, predecessors’ rift affecting devt – Imams

Aideloje Ojo

The Forum of Chief Imams of the 19 Northern States has described the rift between the incumbent governors of the region and their predecessors as “inimical” to its progress, peace and development

The Chief Imams stated this yesterday in a communiqué issued after a three-day meeting in Minna, adding that this had resulted in disunity in the region.
They called on them to maintained peace for the stability and progress of the region.
The Forum also frowned upon the “undue and incessant harassment, as well as the arrest of innocent Muslims, particularly their clerics, by security operatives in parts of the Northern Nigeria.”

It expressed concern over the endemic corruption in government circles and called on the anti-corruption agencies to checkmate this without fear or favour from any quarter.
The Forum in the communiqué urged politicians to desist from recruiting youths as political thugs to reduce criminal activities that sprang up in the past election periods.
It recommended fairness and justice by those in positions of authority as a tool for peace and harmonious co-existence amongst the people.
The Forum suggested the involvement of religious leaders, district heads, ward heads and village heads in tackling security situations in the country.