Confusion at Northern leaders summit over secession call
• Govs boycott meeting over political undertone
• Danjuma, Ciroma demand withdrawal of remark
Confusion broke out yesterday at a meeting of eminent North East geo-political zone in Bauchi after the convener of the summit asked that the North should pull out of Nigeria 'if need be' to take 'our destiny in our hands'.
Alhaji Bello Kirfi, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary spoke at what was scheduled to be the inauguration of North East Forum for Unity and Development (NEFUD), which he is promoting to address the peculiar socio-economic problems facing Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, which constitute the zone.
He was, however, called to order by former Chief of Army Staff and ex-defence minister, General Theophilus Danjuma, who first dissociated himself from Kirfi's position and then asked him to withdraw the statement immediately.
He said he would not be a party to any move to dismember Nigeria having fought for its unity in the Civil War.
Gen. Danjuma described Kirfi's statement as weighty.
"As someone who went to the war front and survived it, I must warn that this statement be withdrawn immediately," he declared.
He got a supporter in former Finance Minister, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who was the Chairman of the occasion.
The veteran politician and one time governor of the Central Bank announced the withdrawal of the offending statement contained in paragraph 15 at page 9 of Kirfi's speech.
The crowd in the 5000 capacity Sports Hall, Bauchi applauded the decision.
Kirfi then formally withdrew the sentence although he said it was for the "meantime."
The summit itself appeared doomed from the beginning following its boycott by Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Danjuma Suntai (Taraba) and Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), for 'political reasons.'
They were primed as the key drivers of the forum but opted out on the suspicion that the organisers had not revealed their true intentions.
Gen. Danjuma himself was not comfortable with the governors' absence and called for the postponement of the summit until the governors would be able to attend.
As the programme was about to get under way he drew attention to their non-participation and recalled that just a few days ago, one of the governors told him they had all agreed to stay away because they suspected there was a hidden agenda.
He said: " one of the governors told me that all of them had resolved not to come and even advised me to stay away, that there's a hidden agenda."
Gen. Danjuma said based on this advice, he went back to read the minutes of the forum's previous meetings, saying "I am not in a position to pass judgment but this development has created doubt in my mind regarding the motive of the forum. I therefore suggest that this meeting be adjourned immediately and reconvene at a later date when we would have been able to persuade the governors to join us in this noble undertaking."
He said the inauguration of all the action committees save that of security be shelved.
"I suggest that the security committee when inaugurated should approach and persuade the governors and in fact should be the conveners of the meeting," he added.
He volunteered to be a member of the security committee, which he suggested should meet the state governors.
Others at the meeting were former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Professor Jubril Aminu, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Presidential Adviser on Food security, Professor Ango Abdullahi, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waiziri, Gen Timothy Shelpidi (rtd), Alhaji Bunu Sheriff, and Alhaji Aliyu B. Modibbo.
Also in attendance were: General Yakubu Usman; Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Abdul Ningi; Senator Aisha Alhassan; former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Inna Ciroma; and former Education Minister, Alhaji Dauda Brima.
The Nation recalled that the Forum's first meeting was held on June 13, 2012 under the aegis of North East Forum of Concerned Leaders before it transformed into North East Forum for Unity and Development (NEFUD). The Forum according to its founders is concerned about the ongoing insecurity, unemployment and economic underdevelopment, marginalisation, and corruption challenges in the six states of the region.
Funmi Tofowomo
--The art of living and impermanence.
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