Why Northern Part Of Nigeria Is More Favourable To Major Insecurities -By Shariff M.M Al-hassan

The natural location and the topography of the North together with the general attitude of most  Northerners especially those saddled with  leadership positions, provides conducive opportunities for these tense crimes to flourish easily in the North.

North at the extreme end is bounded by the Chad Republic, Niger Republic and Cameroon Republic. So also it is  endowed with vast land which empty into savannah type of forest that links to each other and also serves as getway to these foreign lands.

It is also a fact that,these forests are not hostile forests as compared to the Southern forests that are of rain forests and heavily thick with terrible terrain. Thus, Northern part of Nigeria becomes ready home for cross boarder movements of these criminals easily as compared to the Southern part that has difficult terrain which makes  it uneasy for these high tech criminals to operate. Hence the reason why North is terribly under heavy bombardment of bandits, kidnappers and religious fundamentalists otherwise referred to as insurgencies. 

The other aspect of what promotes insecurities in the North are the lack of foresight by most Northerners who have opportunities but mismanaged them. North prefer to promote and to strengthen individuals than to promote institutions. The North of 1960s,1970s and 1980s are no more. As those patriotic leaders have gone with their prime believes of collective unity of purpose than tribalistic and wilful promotion of class distinctions. This has further destabilized the North and has opened the area for ridicule.

Hence, both internal and external forces are given great opportunities to do what they like. The enemies within collaborates with the outside enemies and use the lapses to make lives very difficult to ordinary Northerners and by extension to other citizens living and doing legitimate activities in the North.

Therefore the solutions to these problems that opens ways for the rapid growth of insecurities in the North lies with almost every Northerner especially  the leaders of the North who are by the supremacy must accept the load whether good or bad as leaders. These leaders are categorized into three as:

i- Political leaders.
ii- The Traditional leaders.
iii- The Religious leaders.

Each of these leaders have positive effects on their adherents in the way and manner they relate to them. The Political leaders must ensure that the need of their adherents are provided notably: 

( a ) provision of quality life which is resident in good and cheap education to their wards.

( b ) provision of good health facilities with cheap and correct drugs.

( c ) provision of cheap ways of getting three square meals on their table daily.

( d ) provision of genuine and reliable  empowerment to those who cannot be given formal education.

Once the Political leaders can genuinely do these to their adherents, most of these insecurities are likely to reduce drastically as most would have much of their problems solved and they are likely not to have time to think of any form of bad conducts.

As to the case of Traditional leaders.Theirs as fathers to all must maintain that position to the later. Truth, objectivity and sincerity to all irrespective of their status must be the watchful action of these categories of leaders. In the actual fact the practice of genuine rule of law ought to begin from here. Correct those that have erred through fatherly advice and admonitions. In political considerations go with the peoples choice and do not allow any form of motives to bring you down. Always act and maintain that privileged position as father of all inrespective of ethnicity, tribal, religious, class status or political standing.

While as to that of religious leaders who are people of faith must maintain neutrality when it comes to any issue that surrounds religious matters. In Nigeria we have two principal religions as Christianity and Islam. Fortunately adherents of these two religions stays and dine together.

They work in the same offices and share the same aspirations especially when it comes to meeting stage. These categories of leaders should not preach one thing and do another thing. They are religiously bounded to always act on the concept of leadership is by example.

However, all the above ends on the table of State Governors across the North who are by the Constitution are natural leaders to all. They are therefore the promoters of positive values if indeed we are to move out of these insecurities.

The Northern Governors Forum, the North Central States Governors Forum and by extension all the Northern Governors must care to how to eradicate these negativities beyond the current military onslaught for a permanent solution. After all most of these criminals are our own but only on the path of astray. May Allah/God bring them to the right way, ameen.