By Golok Nanmwa, Jos
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong has disclosed that Northern Governors of the APC supported power shift to the Southern part of Nigeria in order to promote the unity, peace and stability of Nigeria within the spirit of fairness, equity and justice which the late Premier of the Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello stood for.
This was contained in a statement signed by Macham Makut his director of press and public affairs and made available to newsmen in Jos.
The statement reads that Lalong was speaking at the 9th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
He said because the late Sardauna lived a life of accommodation, tolerance, justice and fairness, his legacies have endured long after his demise and continue to inspire leadership in the region and country at large.
“When I led my colleagues and the Northern Governors to push for a power shift to the south, it was not because we wanted Asiwaju to be President. Rather, we wanted to ensure that justice and fairness prevails in our nation for unity, peace and harmony. That is what we believe our revered father of blessed memory Sir Ahmadu Bello would do in such circumstances. Fortunately, the party delegates chose Asiwaju who was eventually accepted by Nigerians as he was unanimously elected””, he said.
Lalong urged all Nigerians, both in the North and across the country, to support President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he takes on the mantle of leadership. He said the North is an important stakeholder in the Nigerian project and its contributions towards his election cannot be over emphasized.
The Northern region needs serious attention in various sectors ranging from security, education, infrastructure, agriculture, economic revival and restoration of law and order in various areas that have been ravaged by insecurity.
“It is heartening to note that the Northern Governors Forum, under my leadership, has done a great deal of work on bringing our people together as one people with one common destiny,,” he said.
Nasarawa State Governor Engr. Abdullahi Sule said it was a privilege for his state to host the very important event which reminds the region and the nation about the values that Sardauna lived and died for.
