Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barr Yakubu Dogara, has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Northern Nigeria, describing the region as the largest killing field and biggest cemetery in the country.
Dogara made these remarks in a keynote address titled “The Role of Youth Leaderships in Warehousing the Youth Burge in the North for Development and Progress,” delivered at the Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA) fundraising event in Abuja on Sunday, July 28, 2024.
Dogara highlighted the unprecedented crisis facing the North, stating, “Today, the North is faced with an unprecedented crisis so much so that nothing in our history prepares us for such a time as this. A vast number of us are addicted to rage with the rest to delirium. In our foolishness, we tend to define our happiness as the other groups’ unhappiness.”
He emphasized the collective responsibility in addressing these issues, noting that even those who have spoken out against the violence are now fatigued and resigned. “Every single one of us is complicit in this. Even the few of us who have dared to speak up are already outrage fatigued and have surrendered to fatalism,” he said.
Dogara stressed the importance of unity for the North’s survival and prosperity, stating, “Our strength is not and will never be in our numbers but in our unity. When we are united, we will be strong and when we strive to keep our bond and remain undivided, we will be invincible.”
He painted a grim picture of the current situation, citing rampant insecurity, accusations of ethnic cleansing, and widespread violence. “Attacks are unrelenting and there appears to be no end in sight. The situation has clearly gotten out of hand, in the wake of wanton killings by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists and bandits, kidnap for ransom and mass abduction of school children in different parts of the North,” he said.
Dogara highlighted the devastating impact of violence on the region, with nearly 90% of the country’s insecurity burden borne by the North. He also pointed out the alarming number of out-of-school children and the high rates of poverty and malnutrition in the region.
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The former Speaker urged the youth to take on leadership roles and work towards a reconciled and prosperous North. “By 2050, the population of the North is projected to hit 240 million people out of which, 156 million is projected to be young people of less than 29 years. How do we warehouse this demography now and in the future?” he questioned.
Dogara concluded by calling for collective action to eliminate violence and build a united North. “We may have been crying ourselves to sleep over the permacrisis that has engulfed the North but believe me, we won’t own that destitution forever if we all work together to stymie it. We will rise by what we plant not by what we seek to harvest,” he said. “Let’s go back to how we were brought up so that it may be well with us.”
He urged youth leaders to build networks across ethnic and religious lines, sharing successful peace initiatives and working together to combat insecurity. “Anyone who tells you that we can remain divided and still build a civilization is either a fool himself or is taking you for a fool as he will have no historical parallel to point to,” he concluded.
