Chairman of Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, yesterday led members of the Steering Committee on advocacy visit to former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda, in Minna Niger state. In his address, Yakassai said the organisation was established in February 10, 2018, as a direct response to the dire need to promote the cultural and political unity and amity among all northerners and by extension Nigeria. “Unlike some other organisations in the North, while this body is being political, the NLSA is, however, non-partisan. It is political in the sense that the door of the assembly is open to all northerners of their ethnicity, differences in religious and political belief or sectional background.”
He said although the idea to form the body came months to 2019 general elections, it has nothing to do with the elections, adding that “we are aiming far beyond this year’s electioneering.” Yakasasai, however, said the body “is interested in coming up with an agenda that would form the basis for its support for anybody who is aspiring for an elective office at any level of governance.”
He said the organisation would not watch while northerners were taken for granted by political office seekers, adding that “the North has been supporting people aspiring for elective offices, but in the end, the region has nothing to show for the support. We feel it is time that this narrative should change.” He disclosed the intention of the Assembly to convene a northern political summit to address the palpable disquiet, distrust and loss of confidence of Nigerians against the political class which he noted, was creating a serious threat to the survival of democracy in the country.
Responding, Babaginda commended the body for its vision of a united and prosperous Nigeria, while promising to support the initiative. The former military president also accepted to be one of the patrons of the body, while urging all progressives-minded Nigerians to support its lofty dreams
