By Lawrence Audu
Former Chief of Army Staff and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai has called for greater developmental strides in the Northeast of Nigeria.
The former Army Chief turned diplomat averred that more advocacy should be made to the Northeast region of Nigeria, noting that from all statistics, the Northeast of Nigeria remains one of the least developed regions of the country in terms of education, health facilities, enrollment into schools, and infrastructure.
Ambassador Buratai made the call Sunday in Maiduguri during the maiden dinner and awards ceremony of the Concerned Citizens of the Northeast CCNE.
The coming on board of the CCNE as a pressure group to champion the cause of the masses and the generality of the Northeast people he said, is timely and a watershed to giving a voice to the voiceless.
Buratai urged the group to pursue its objectives vigorously while defending the cause of the region. In his words: “The region is highly blessed with vast land for agriculture, animal husbandry and of course, mineral exploration”
He noted further that, in the 60s and 70s fish, caolin, and other resources were gotten from the region and before the Boko Haram adventure, the Northeast produced the fish that was supplied to the entire country and beyond while the prospects of oil remained high.
He urged the group to heighten their voices in the call for the harnessing of these resources for the benefit of all while calling on the group to begin advocacy for character molding and attitudinal change among the youths while pursuing their legitimate businesses.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Major General ID Penap while thanking the organization for such an innovative idea, referred to the organizers as visionary, and urged them not to relent in the quest to see that development becomes rapid in the region.
Also speaking, the guest speaker at the occasion, Dr Sani Hassan Boguma called on the youths of the region to strive towards building an egalitarian society based on equity, unity, and social justice while jettisoning sectionalism and religious intolerance.
The event featured awards and cash presentations to distinguished personalities for their contributions to the peace and development of the region. The Awardees include Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Sheikh Goni Umar Goni Usman, Bishop Mohammed Naga, Amb Ummu Kalthum, Hajiya Fatima Monguno, and the Northeast Development Commission NEDC.
In attendance are traditional and religious leaders as well as delegates from the entire Northeast region.
