IBB Stands Firm: Protecting Northern Interests Is Non-Negotiable

According to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), a former military president, Northern Nigeria needs powerful supporters who would genuinely work to improve the region and protect its interests.
According to reports, IBB said this while officials from the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative, led by Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the former governor of Sokoto State and chairman of the organization’s board of trustees, visited his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State, on Wednesday.
IBB extended his support and applauded the initiative to start the movement.

He underlined that, especially at this point in Nigerian history, the North needs a movement of this kind supported by respectable people like Alhaji Bafarawa and the movement’s director general, Dr. Abdullahi Idris.
He asked the Arewa cohesion authorities to continue to be steadfast in protecting the country’s interests as well as those of the north.

“This new advocacy group for northern unity and good governance has emerged at a critical time when the region needs strong voices,” the former military leader said.

According to Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Arewa Cohesion Movement was founded because the North needs a strong voice to protect its interests in national affairs.

Nigerians Will Sleep Better If There Is Peace – Bafarawa
Both the North and Nigeria urgently need peace and efficient democratic processes to fulfill the demands of the people, Alhaji Bafarawa said in a press conference after his conversation with IBB about the situation of the country and the future of the North.

He stressed that it is improper to blame Nigeria’s problems on any one area and called on leaders and citizens to stand together in order to progress the country.

“We’ve come to see how our leader is doing and to get his opinion on the state of affairs and how to proceed with Nigeria.

Therefore, it is up to us to figure out how we can help ourselves—not even the government. Nigerians will sleep comfortably if there is calm. Thus, it is our responsibility to explore what we can do to help the north and the nation as a whole advance.

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When we explained the reason for our visit, he blessed us and promised to continue guiding us in all that we do.

“This nation needs peace and harmony. Furthermore, democracy cannot exist without opposition. Thus, we must let democracy flourish. Thus, I fail to see why anyone should claim that there is no opposition.
“I am currently on sabbatical leave. I haven’t given politics up entirely. But as of right now, I am not a member of the APC, the PDP, or any other political party—not even the coalition movement. I’m conducting my politics in a really constructive manner so that people will see what it’s all about. According to Bafarawa, “even if we are going to help anybody, you have to come up with a blueprint to tell us the problems and we see how we can assist and support you to move our region and the country forward.”

Bafarawa stated that it is incorrect to attribute the nation’s problems to a specific area, stating that “if your head or your eye is sick, it will affect all your body.” No Nigerian understands this nonsense of referring to the North or the South. Let’s make sure Nigeria is a part of anything we do.

The initiative’s goal, according to Dr. Abdullahi Idris, Director General of Arewa Cohesion, is to “promote unity and development in the North, ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to foster the region’s progress.”

He stated that Nigerians are not happy with the current security issues, emphasizing the need for group efforts to effect positive change.

He conveyed his appreciation to the former president for his cooperation and support of the cause.