From: Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Coalition of Northeastern Patriots (CONEP) has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency increase the revenue grants to the northeastern states considering the insecurity challenges facing the subregion.
The Interim Chairman of CONEP, Alhaji Suleiman S.K. Bauchi who made the call yesterday during a meeting of the Coalition held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi lamented that the “entire zone is being faced with the highest rate of youth unemployment than any other zone in the country”.
The chairman expressed worry that “despite the fact that the Governors in the zone are desperate and willing to employ more youth into the public service, it became impossible due to insufficient revenue which results into considerable increase in youth recruitment into violent groups”.
He however noted that the Northeastern zone “is the most blessed area in terms of Agricultural and Mining investment resources but despite much efforts, the state Governors are trying to convince investors for patronage which could have reduced considerably the over dependent on the public service, proved abortive due to fear of insecurity affecting the zone”.
Suleiman S.K. Bauchi used the occasion to ” sympathize and commiserate with the Bornu State Governor, Professor Babagana Umaru Zulum over his predicament on the recent unfortunate deadly attacks on him and his convoy in the course of discharging his leadership responsibilities to the good people of Bornu state “.
He then called on all citizens of the zone to include all ” our leaders in their daily prayers for peace, for without peace,we say good bye to all forms of development in the zone “.
In view of this,he advised all Governors of the northeastern states to unite themselves irrespective of partisan politics and come up with a strong means of tackling insecurity matters locally in the Northeast rather than solely relying on federal government. END
