Northern, Southern elders meet over insecurity, corruption

On November 21, 2012 · In News

By CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

WORRIED that the country might implode given the rising wave of insecurity and corruption, elder statesmen and eminent persons drawn from all parts of the country brainstormed in Abuja, yesterday, to hammer out solutions to the twin menace.

Chaired by legal luminary and Chairman of The Patriots, Professor Ben Nwabueze, the meeting, which was hosted by former Finance Minister, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Vanguard gathered, was held at the Yar’ Adua Centre.

An insider told Vanguard that the elders feared that the country was speedily being pushed to disintegration.

The source said: “We want to save Nigerians from embarking on self-help and total collapse because of increasing insecurity, violence, kidnapping and corruption, which are horrible.

“About 90 of us from all zones of the country attended the meeting.”

‘Constitution amendment’s cosmetic’

Fearing that the ongoing constitution amendment exercise might not yield the desired result because “the amendment is cosmetic and those doing it are also corrupt,” the elders also raised a 12-man committee, led by Malam Ciroma, to fashion out an understanding between the North and  South on national conference and joint action against corruption.

The panel, the source disclosed, would meet in two weeks time and might tour all parts of the country in search of understanding and unity among the citizenry.

Roll call

Notable persons at the parley include Prince Tony Momoh, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, Professor Jubril Aminu, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Wale Okunnyi.

Others were Ms Ankio Briggs, Hajia Najatu Mohammed, Alhaji Ahmed Yayale, Dr. Haba Alli, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Chief Solomon Asemota, Senator Felix Ibru, Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi, Ismaila Isa and Senator Bassey Henshaw.

SOURCE: 21 November 2012.