A new socio-political group, Arewa Movement for Good Governance for Northwest states (AM2G), debuted in Kano on Saturday.
Its chairman, Dr Usman Bugaje said it would unite the geo-political zone and seek for its political direction.
Dr Bugaje is an Islamic scholar, political activist and civil society leader. He initially trained as a pharmacist.
He said the AM2G would focus on strengthening unity among Muslims and Christians to enable the geopolitical zone to demand for good governance.
The chairman also presented the group’s charter and a book entitled: “Principles of Leadership: Snippets from Islam and Christianity.’’
Bugaje argued that there was no reason for the northern parts of Nigeria to be poor and underdeveloped considering the resources in the zone.
He called on Nigerians of northern extraction to return to the drawing board to reorganise and reorder priorities to survive and thrive.
He noted that industries in the region had been shutting down, leading to worsening unemployment and rising youth irritability.
“We found ourselves on this hot bed of religious and ethnic hostility and now this debilitating insecurity that has turned the whole region desolate.
“The situation is further worsened by the fact that our pristine values of selflessness, hard-work, honesty, probity and courage are daily being eroded and our society has been literally decomposing,’’ he said.
Bugaje appealed to the region to use its instincts of patriotism to build citizens capable of driving real and effective social, economic and political transformation.
He noted that the main focus of the AM2G charter was to leverage on unity and also to demand for good governance from political leaders for the socio-economic development of the region.
He called on all and sundry to realise that the future of the region was in unity.
“We must come together to salvage the North,’’ he stressed.
In her remarks, Hajiya Aisha Dankani, Northwest Coordinator of the group, urged religious leaders to focus on teaching unity among their adherents for peace, progress and political stability in the country.
Dankani observed that the numerous challenges bedevilling the region could only be overcome through electing credible leaders.
Chairman of the inauguration, Prof. Inusa Matazu called for increased tolerance and political understanding among Nigerians.
He also urged Nigerians to forget religious and ethnic sentiments and to vote for capable candidates who could move the country forward from its present challenges.
Matazu, former chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Katsina State, said it was only by so doing that the desire of Nigerians for credible leaders through the political process would become a reality. (NAN)Â
