Cardinal Onayeikan appeals to northern elites, suggesting that addressing regional challenges will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s national development.
Former Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has called on northern elites to address the region’s economic, political, and security challenges.
Cardinal Onayeikan emphasized that addressing the issues in northern Nigeria is key to resolving the country’s challenges.
He made this announcement in Abuja while hosting the League of Northern Democrats (LND), which was led by former Kano Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.
While commending LND for their efforts in promoting a northern renaissance, Onayeikan urged the League to investigate why there is significantly more poverty and insecurity in the northern states compared to those in the south of Nigeria.
We need to acknowledge the reality that the current state of northern Nigeria is not something we can take pride in. Our records on various indicators of good governance and standard of living are quite poor. If poverty is an issue in Nigeria, its epicenter lies in the north.
When a League of Northern Democrats forms with the aim of tackling issues and understanding why progress is stagnant, I believe things will begin to move forward. Such an elite league should effectively engage those who claim political leadership roles, particularly since many members have considerable government experience.
He said, “You can tell them to listen and observe their surroundings. Are you proud of what you see? With so many children out of school, it’s not enough to excuse it by claiming poverty. If we keep using that as an excuse, the problem will persist.”
The Bishop Emeritus mentioned that the nation requires numerous groups of democrats to enhance governance quality.
Onayekan also urged the league to challenge the leadership to understand why the economies of the northern states are lagging, while advocating for harmonious religious relations between Christians and Muslims in that region.
He mentioned that fostering harmonious religious coexistence between Christians and Muslims is a key step towards creating a stable and united northern Nigeria.
Peoplesmind
