Nigeria - Economic Recovery From Boko Haram Will Take 20 Years
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2012/12/nigeria-economic-recovery-from-boko.html
Against the backdrop of attacks by terrorists in the North, former head of state, General Abubakar Abdulsalami, has said that it will take 20 years to revive the region.
He said a lot of socio-economic damage had been done in the region, maintaining that only collective effort and unity among the diverse people of the region could restore the lost glory of the region.
He spoke to newsmen after chairing a session on, “Security, politics and economy of the North,” during the Arewa House Conference on “The North and Strategies for Sustainable Development,” on Thursday.
“The essence of the conference is to seek for unity among the people, you go round the areas, that is when you will appreciate the extent of damage done to the region. We have to work together to revive it.
“The people should help government solve security challenges in the region, everybody must act as a watchdog of the country and his immediate environment.
Certainly, if there is unity, we wouldn’t be here at this conference, so since there is no unity, that is why the Arewa House is trying to galvanise it at this conference.
“All of us should join hands, we cannot leave security to the government alone, every Nigerian is a security officer, let’s try to join hands and report what we see, so that the government will be able to take action, we should be government’s watch dogs and also watch our communities.”
Dr Baba-Ahmed, a former Secretary of INEC said at the occasion that the next two years would test the resilience of the Nigerian state and the capacity of northerners to bounce back.
“Right now, the Boko Haram insurgency is eating it up like a cancer, and it will require bold initiatives by northerners to find a solution, by influencing both the insurgency and the government.
Not all Nigerians are comfortable with a united and strong North. Its current position, therefore is welcome to its detractors and rivals. They will not lift a finger to heal its wound. This will have to be done by people in this hall who feel the pain most,” he stated.
Similarly, Senator George Akume expressed sadness that the North was no longer safe for both its people and visitors, calling on the people to imbibe hard work, integrity, honesty, respect and determination so as to revive the region.
His words: “If there is no peace, development hardly takes place, no matter the determination of the actors. The theme of this conference bears direct relevance to what is happening in the North,” he said.
He spoke to newsmen after chairing a session on, “Security, politics and economy of the North,” during the Arewa House Conference on “The North and Strategies for Sustainable Development,” on Thursday.
“The essence of the conference is to seek for unity among the people, you go round the areas, that is when you will appreciate the extent of damage done to the region. We have to work together to revive it.
“The people should help government solve security challenges in the region, everybody must act as a watchdog of the country and his immediate environment.
Certainly, if there is unity, we wouldn’t be here at this conference, so since there is no unity, that is why the Arewa House is trying to galvanise it at this conference.
“All of us should join hands, we cannot leave security to the government alone, every Nigerian is a security officer, let’s try to join hands and report what we see, so that the government will be able to take action, we should be government’s watch dogs and also watch our communities.”
Dr Baba-Ahmed, a former Secretary of INEC said at the occasion that the next two years would test the resilience of the Nigerian state and the capacity of northerners to bounce back.
“Right now, the Boko Haram insurgency is eating it up like a cancer, and it will require bold initiatives by northerners to find a solution, by influencing both the insurgency and the government.
Not all Nigerians are comfortable with a united and strong North. Its current position, therefore is welcome to its detractors and rivals. They will not lift a finger to heal its wound. This will have to be done by people in this hall who feel the pain most,” he stated.
Similarly, Senator George Akume expressed sadness that the North was no longer safe for both its people and visitors, calling on the people to imbibe hard work, integrity, honesty, respect and determination so as to revive the region.
His words: “If there is no peace, development hardly takes place, no matter the determination of the actors. The theme of this conference bears direct relevance to what is happening in the North,” he said.
