In a powerful statement on X (formerly Twitter), former Senator Shehu Sani has issued a clarion call to Northern leaders to confront the escalating violence stemming from the ongoing nationwide hunger protests.
“The President must be held to account, but he is not the problem or the solution to the problem,” Sani asserted, emphasizing that the responsibility for the current crisis extends far beyond the presidency.
“The governors, political, business, religious, traditional leaders, and the intellectuals of the region must converge and urgently come out with an implementable master plan to tackle the decades of endemic poverty and destitution, illiteracy, chronic underdevelopment, abject neglect, religious extremism, and terrorism that has demonized the region and impoverished its people.”
Sani’s post comes in the wake of heightened violence during hunger protests, which have erupted across the nation. The unrest, marked by clashes between protesters and security forces, has underlined the desperation and frustration of a populace grappling with severe economic hardship.
“Guns and tanks can suppress the flame but not extinguish the fire,” Sani warned, pointing to the inadequacy of militarized responses to the deep-seated issues.
He urged Northern leaders to adopt a reflective approach, stating, “The North should look at the mirror and not the telescope.”
Sani’s statement also touched on the region’s potential for self-sufficiency and wealth generation, highlighting the untapped economic opportunities. “We have the cattle to build our wealth; we shouldn’t be looking for a scapegoat,” he noted, urging a shift from blame to proactive solutions.
It is germane to state that the ongoing hunger protests are a direct response to the worsening economic conditions in Nigeria, with inflation, unemployment, and food insecurity reaching alarming levels. In the North, these issues are compounded by long-standing challenges, including poor infrastructure, limited access to education, and persistent insecurity due to religious extremism and terrorism.
