League of Northern Democrats expands support as Generals Kazir, Agwai endorse movement

From Umar Dankano, Yola

Two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Alwali Kazir and General Martin Luther Agwai (retired) have described the formation of the League of Northern Democrats (NLD) as a welcome initiative worthy of support by all right-thinking people in view of the numerous challenges facing the North and the Country in general.

General Kazir, who was also a onetime Military Governor of Kwara State, while hosting the leadership of the League led by its chairman, former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, said at his residence in Abuja yesterday:

“I am happy we still have thinking and patriotic people left in the present chaotic situation of the North. No matter who or where you are, so long as you come from what used to be the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, then you are a Northerner and it is your duty to help make the North worthy of living. I have read through your concept note and your communique and I think you are on the right cause”.

He said that he was told of the formation and activities of the LND by some close associates, and after going through the various publications on the LND he became convinced that it’s the right place to be. “I am sure you know that my son, Brigadier Kapeh, is also a member of the league. That should tell you the level of my support to the movement”.

The former general who identified with and fully committed to supporting the initiative, tasked the LND to “live upto its mission and should not also die away as many other such organizations”. He then promised to assist the movement with intellectual inputs to strengthen its position within the political landscape of the region in particular and nation in general.

In a separate occasion today, another former Chief of Army Staff and also former Chief of Defense Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai, while receiving a delegation of the LND in his home led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, its chairman, said emphatically that: “I am in this with you. I will go through your letter and revert to you. But in the meantime, be rest assured I am in this with you. Even though I am not a politician and I have no intention of being one, but I will stand by you as your intentions seem to be as noble”. I commend your efforts and commitment as a determined group to help tackle the challenges facing the region. “Some of us saw these dangers coming long before we reached where we are today, and worked hard to avert them while we were in service”.

General Akwai promised to help in the group’s activities geared towards ‘’returning us to the good old days of selfless service”. He thanked the delegation for finding him worthy to seek his support. He particularly thanked the chairman and especially Dr. Umar Ardo, who he said has been dogged in pushing his ideas all over him. He said such determination is what is needed to get things done.

The League of Northern Democrats convened by an astute academic cum politician, Dr. Umar Ardo, was recently launched in a meeting attended by critical Northern Elites. The Group appointed former Kano State Governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau as it’s protem Chairman and former HoR member, Hon. Emmanuel Jime as its secretary, amongst other eminent Northern Nigerians.

The League is a coalition of two critical groups within our northern elite. The first group consists of individuals who have distinguished themselves in various sectors of public service, private enterprises and other significant fields. The second group is also composed of such

individuals as of the first, but in addition are members of families of our renowned past leaders, patriots, heroes, distinct men and women from the North who served the country and left behind legacies of service and values. The combination of these two groups is aimed to reposition the North to an advantageously politically, economically and strategically within the Nigerian nation-state.

The group is Scheduled to hold a political summit in Kaduna in October this year with Vice President Kashim Shetima expected to be in attendance. According to it’s Convener, the LND is political movement with political objectives, but is so far non-partisan, without any ethnic or religious affiliations or sentiments. “The movement came into being to help government tackle the myriad of challenges undermining the northern states such as disunity, insecurity, poverty, illiteracy, destitution, unemployment and the menace of drug addiction among the youths.