Northern governors link corruption to rising insecurity in Nigeria

Vice President Kashim Shettima and northern governors have emphasized that corrupt governance directly contributes to the insecurity plaguing the North and Nigeria overall.

The leaders disclosed this while making presentations at the 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation lecture and award hosted by Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum in Maiduguri Saturday.

The vice president’s representative, Hakeem-Baba Ahmed, stated, “Sardauna has left a legacy of accountability, fairness, and probity, which current leaders have defied.

“The leader cannot engage in corruption if he wants to stand above the common thief, the bandit, and the kidnapper.”

Governor Babagana Umara Zulum also attributed corruption as the reason for the country’s challenges, urging leaders to prioritize good governance.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, as the guest speaker, called on policymakers to address abuse of power and insecurity challenges.

According to him, the reason why Sardauna is being glorified is the value of teamwork, resilience and commitment to the provision of qualitative education, agriculture, and infrastructural development.

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, chairman of the northern governor forum, said, “Good governance is the only way out of the insecurity in the region and the country as a whole.”

The 11th Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture is scheduled to be hosted by Bauchi State in 2025.