Northern Elders under the auspices of Northern Leaders of Thought rose from their meeting at Arewa House Kaduna on Saturday, calling on the Federal Government to postpone the proposed 2022 National Population Census.
The Northern Leaders, in a communique at the end of the meeting, said the proposed census should not hold because of many displaced persons and proximity of the census to the 2023 general elections.
They also said: “Northerners have equal rights to aspire to all offices but they must raise competence, evidence of personal integrity and commitments to the rule of law above all other considerations.”
The communique read by the chairman of the Chairman Communique Committee and former Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Prof. Doknan Decent Danjuma Shenni said: “The meeting advises the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governors and Legislators to revisit and re-prioritize spending on security and addressing the scourge of poverty.
We recommend the increase in recruitment of security personnel.
“The fundamental rights of all political parties to field candidates of their choices, and the right of voters to freely exercise choices over who leads them cannot be compromised.
Northerners have equal rights to aspire to all offices but they must raise competence, evidence of personal integrity and commitments to the rule of law above all other considerations.
“Northerners should ignore provocative statements from groups in the South of Nigeria who appear to believe that Command Democracy in which threats and hate campaigns are their hallmark or defining elements will work in Nigeria. North should vote for the best Leader.
“The Meeting notes the desperate condition of economic existence of most Northerners, poses additional threats to security and the democratic process.
It recommends that leaders should avoid pushing the population into deeper poverty and desperation with challenging economic policies and lack of empathy. Government at all levels should consider a form of structured welfare system to alleviate poverty in the populace.
