The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, highlighted climate change and mass illiteracy among the Fulani community as primary factors contributing to instability in the North.
Speaking at a Fulfulde Poetry Competition organized by Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, on Wednesday, Ganduje emphasized the historical symbiotic relationship between farmers and herders, which has been disrupted by these challenges.
He noted the Federal government’s efforts to establish a more structured livestock system to settle herders in specific areas, ensuring access to education for their children.
Ganduje also underscored the importance of forest control to combat banditry, advocating for the establishment of forest guards.
Governor Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu echoed these sentiments, stating that the state government is heavily investing in intelligence gathering and strengthening security apparatus through training and provision of necessary tools.
He emphasized community empowerment, believing that active participation of citizens is essential for neighborhood security.
Aliyu reiterated the government’s commitment to providing opportunities for youth to secure a better future, emphasizing community engagement and dialogue as vital tools for building trust and cooperation between security agencies and citizens.
He praised Usmanu Danfodiyo University for organizing the poetry competition and announced a donation of N10 million to the participants on behalf of the state government.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, highlighted the role of poetry in fostering peace and stability among communities.
He stressed the significance of citizens’ involvement in achieving peace, stating that external interventions alone are insufficient.
The competition ended with Abdullahi Isah Suleiman from Kano emerging as the first position winner, followed by Atiku Abubakar Kesoje in second place and Bello Abdullahi Tangaza in third place.
