Insecurity forces Arewa govs to relocate meeting from Kaduna
on SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 · in NEWS

By PAUL ODENYI
ABUJA—The 19 Northern Governors are meeting tomorrow for the first time outside Kaduna, the regional headquarters of old Northern Region, due to threat to security in the northern parts of the country.

Malam Danladi Ndayebo, Media Assistant to Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, said the venue of the meeting is being kept secret as a result of insecurity in the country.

He did not explain whether there was any specific threat that required the movement of the venue of the meeting, but simply said: “We deliberately refused to disclose the venue of the meeting because of security.”

The meeting may likely hold in Abuja at an undisclosed location.

Ndayebo had issued a statement saying an emergency meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum NGF, has been convened by Gov. Aliyu who is also Chairman of the group.

He said the emergency meeting is to deliberate on the new outbreak of violence and bombings in parts of Plateau State where no fewer than 20 people are reported to have died in recent attacks. Sunday’s explosion hit locations around West of Mines area of Jos, the state capital.

The governors will use the emergency meeting to deliberate on recommendations of the Chief Solomon Lar Committee which, among other things, sought the establishment of truth and reconciliation Commission to understudy the basis for anger and hostility among the groups in the area.

The Lar Committee had also sought for the creation of new council areas in Plateau state and establishment of new grazing parks to curtail frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.

“The problem in Jos is far from religious. It is socio-economic. Therefore, we will not allow individuals and groups to continue to exploit religion for socio-political and economic gains” Governor Aliyu was quoted in the statement as saying.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors Forum NGF will today fete the former governor of Kwara state, Dr. Bukola Saraki for successfully presiding over the group in the last four years. Saraki was Chairman of the NGF from 2007 till May 2011 when his tenure as governor lapsed.

According to sources, the dinner which is to be attended by all the governors of the 36 states of the federation will feature speeches, traditional dance groups and presentation of gifts.

Saraki was the third Chairman of the Governors Forum since the return of Democracy in 1999. Former governors Abdullahi Adamu of Nassarawa state and Victor Attah of Akwa-Ibom states held the positions in the past.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/insecurity-forces-arewa-govs-to-relocate-meeting-from-kaduna/