It�s the North for presidency or nothing � Northern senators, others
Yusuf Alli and Sam Akpe, Abuja
Senators from the three geo-political zones in the Northern part of the country rose from a two-day retreat in Sokoto on Sunday warning politicians from the South to steer clear of the race for the 2007 presidency.
The lawmakers, under the aegis of Northern Senators Forum, argued at the retreat, attended by three former Nigerian leaders � Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar � that the principle of power rotation must be respected.
The forum, which also cautioned against the amendment of the tenure of political office holders through the on-going review of the 1999 Constitution, said it stood by power rotation at the state and local levels throughout the country.
A 10-page communique issued by the senators read in part, "The retreat resolved that it stands by the principle of the rotation of Presidency as between the North and South.
"Consequently, the Forum appeals to all parts of the country to abide by the principle and calls on all those outside the North expressing interest in the presidency in the year 2007 to wait for their turn.
�The Forum also stands by the principle of rotation of political power at the state and local government levels."
On the ongoing constitution review, the senators said, "Any change in the Constitution as a result of the forthcoming amendment exercise should not affect the tenure of any elected official as enshrined in the Constitution under which he or she is elected.
"For the avoidance of doubt, elected officials who would have completed their stipulated two (four year term) shall not be eligible to contest election for similar offices.
"If the current challenges are to be successfully assailed, the North must return to those values that stood the region and its people so well in the past. These values include piety, integrity, patriotism, sacrifice for the common good, the culture of sharing and tolerance.�
On ethnic violence in some parts of the country, the Forum condemned recourse to the settler syndrome.
It said, �We deplore wanton communal violence and increasing social dislocation of people caused by the so-called settler / indigene phenomenon.
"We shall also support appropriate legislation to address the issue as a step towards maintaining peace, order and stability in the North in particular and the nation in general."
Other highlights of the decisions reached by the forum are:
� Members shall continue to co-operate with the Federal Government and the states of the North in all legislation aimed at improving the present poor standard of living of our people in particular.
� Outstanding legislations like the new Revenue Allocation Formula and the Constitutional Review shall be approached by the Forum only in the spirit of what is best for the people;
� We have total confidence in the nation's judiciary and believe that all outstanding constitutional, political and political economy issues would be adjudicated on the basis of law and in the interest of justice, peace and stability; and
� The economy of the North deserves the attention of the Federal Government especially in the following areas:
(i)Considering the contribution of the North to the economic development of Nigeria before the advent of oil, the economy of this country should not be re-structured in such a way as to make uneven development permanent in the country through policies, which appear to be gaining favour;
(ii)Oil exploration must be continued with and accelerated in the North. This is to foster the national harmony that results from the geographical diversification of oil reserves;
(iii)Expansion of oil industry activities shall be extended up to the North. In particular, gas pipelines shall be laid, to provide gas and butanisation programme completed both as alternative energy sources and in order to stem further desert encroachment;
(iv)In the expansion of power supply and restructuring of the power sector, opportunities for power generation should be increased in the North through the development of additional hydroelectric power generating plants. Similarly, government investment in transmission should enable the North to have greater access to generated electricity in distribution. Every effort must be made to enable remote parts of the country to have sufficient power for appropriate industrialisation. Rural electricity must maintain its priority status;
(v)The economy of the North and indeed that of the whole country can be radically transformed by the accelerated development of the solid minerals sector. To that end, the Solid Minerals Ministry must accelerate its programme of development. For a start, there must be comprehensive geological survey of the country within the next two years. The solid minerals industry must be regularised through the institution of a regulatory framework. This would automatically eliminate illegal mining;
(vi)The forum commends government efforts in setting up the Small and Medium Scale enterprises agency (SMEs). Accordingly, it urges the governments of the Northern States to take advantage of this programme for accelerated industrial development;
(vii)In the area of Transportation, the Forum urges the Federal Government to immediately embark on the upgrading and modernising of the railway system. Similarly, the government should also embark on dredging and upgrading the inland waterways;
(viii)The public service sectors of Agriculture, Education and Health are so important and so obvious that they do not require any special expatiation. Suffice it to say all governments, particularly the governments of the Northern States must rededicate themselves to service delivery in these vital sectors;
(ix)The Forum commends government's efforts in the road development programme and investment in the water sector. The Forum therefore, pledges its support of future budgetary provisions for the sustaining these programmes; and
(x)The potential of Tourism as a revenue earner in the North is tremendous. Accordingly, immediate resuscitation of our National Parks of Yankari, Borgu, Gashaka and Borno and the Tourist Festivals like Argungu Fishing and Hadejiya Wetlands must be embarked upon.
The Forum, which also pledged to develop legislative agenda for the North, said that it would hold its next meeting in Bauchi (North- East) in the next six months.
Other prominent Northern leaders at the retreat were Governors Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto); Abdullahi Kure (Niger); Saminu Turaki (Jigawa); former President of the Senate, Chief Ameh Ebute; former ministers, the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Chief Sunday Awoniyi and past senators.
