Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers Must Unite to Save the Region, Gov Inuwa Yahaya Warns at Kaduna Summit

Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers Must Unite to Save the Region, Gov Inuwa Yahaya Warns at Kaduna Summit

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum has urged northern leaders to work together with renewed urgency to confront the worsening insecurity and poverty threatening the region’s stability.

He made the call during the joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council held in Kaduna from December 1–2, 2025.

Yahaya began by extending condolences to states recently hit by abductions and terror attacks, including Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Niger, Sokoto, Borno, and Yobe. He commended the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for efforts that facilitated the release of some abducted children, and pledged the Forum’s continued support for securing the safe return of those still in captivity.

He warned that education—the foundation of the region’s future—is under deliberate attack by terrorists seeking to cripple the north’s progress. Protecting schools, he stressed, must become a shared priority among governments, security agencies, and development partners.

Describing insecurity as an existential threat that transcends politics, class, and religion, Yahaya called for unity of purpose across the north. He reaffirmed the Forum’s “unflinching support” for President Tinubu’s security initiatives but emphasized that international cooperation must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and complexities.

The governor cautioned against divisive narratives that blame one group or faith for the region’s woes, noting that all communities—Muslim and Christian—have suffered, and that members of the armed forces from every background have paid the supreme price. The true enemy, he said, is the criminality and extremism tearing families and communities apart.

Yahaya highlighted the root causes of the region’s fragility: entrenched poverty, illiteracy, lack of opportunity, environmental pressures, and poor resource management. Tackling these challenges, he said, requires massive investment in human capital, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.

He described the millions of almajiri and out-of-school children roaming northern streets as a “stain on our collective conscience,” insisting that leaders must move beyond rhetoric to ensure every child is in school. He also pushed for greater investment in transport and energy infrastructure to open up economic prospects across the region.

Reiterating the Forum’s position, Yahaya called for the swift implementation of state policing as a vital tool for addressing local security threats. He urged federal and state legislators to prioritize the constitutional amendments required to actualize the reforms.

The governor appealed to traditional rulers to continue acting as stabilizing forces, religious leaders to preach peace and tolerance, and political leaders to avoid exploiting ethnic or religious differences. Security agencies, he added, must maintain vigilance and respond decisively to threats, while the judiciary strengthens mechanisms for quick and fair justice.

Above all, Yahaya stressed that security is a shared responsibility: “Only through collective ownership can Northern Nigeria return to sustainable peace, security, and prosperity.”

He concluded by appreciating the Kaduna State Government for hosting the summit and saluted traditional rulers, fellow governors, and President Tinubu for their contributions to the region’s pursuit of peace and development.