Arewa Youth Leader says Northern Nigeria is the most backward region despite having the president

Yerima Shettima, a leader of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has lamented that Northern Nigeria is the most backward region in the country despite having a northerner, Muhammadu Buhari as the president of the country.

He said this in an interview with Sun news online on Tuesday.

“It is sad that today, our own is in charge of almost all the security agencies, our own is the number one man, yet we are the most backward and the worst victims of the incessant and senseless killings, banditry and terrorism.” Shettima said.

“Today, the North is more at war than ever imagined; some people in the South have no idea of what the North is going through. More has to be done and we need to sit up and look at the security architecture of the country. We all as Nigerians must understand that the security of the country is collectively our business.

He added with a warning that if insecurity is not plagued in the country, it might lead to a second civil war.

“Some of us were not born at the time of the civil war, but from what we read, those things that happened that led to the war were uncalled for and we shouldn’t have lost those souls that were lost.” he said

“That is why some of us of this generation continue to insist that the right things should be done so that we avoid plunging the country into another war.”

” If Nigeria should fall back into the same experiences of 51 years ago, the country may not survive it again. Fifty one years ago is a very long time and as we speak today, it is still very difficult to let go. The level of suspicion and division among us is getting worse by the day despite the forgiveness and other things. I pray that God should not allow us to experience again what happened 51 years ago.”

“But for that to happen, we must embrace two things; we must apply equity and we must ensure justice for all; that is the only way to avert another conflict.”