Vice President Kashim Shettima asserted that the prevailing crises of insecurity and banditry in the Northern region stem from corrupt governance.
Shettima conveyed this perspective during the 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation lecture and award ceremony, held in Maiduguri on Saturday and hosted by Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum.
Represented by his special adviser on Political Affairs, Hakeem-Baba Ahmed, the vice president emphasized that the current leaders have departed from the legacy of accountability, fairness, and probity established by Sardauna.
He identified corruption by leaders as one of the root causes of insecurity, saying, “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 blamed corruption as the reason why the country is not getting things right, while calling those in the position of leadership to provide good governance.
The guest speaker, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, called on the policy makers to address abuse of power and insecurity challenges facing the country.
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.
The chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya noted that good governance is the only way out of the insecurity in the region and the country as a whole.
Emeritus professor Umaru Shehu, Aisha Muhammed Nahuce, Professor Deborah Eniho and Adams David Baiki were among those that were awarded by the foundation.
The 11th Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture is to be hosted by Bauchi State in 2025.
