For the records: LND pays courtesy call on Yakubu Gowon
Being an Address by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, CON, PEN, Sardaunan Kano and Chairman LND, on the Occasion of a Courtesy Visit to His Excellency, General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, Abuja,
November 27, 2024
Your Excellency, General Yakubu Gowon, Sir.
2. It is with profound respect and a deep sense of history that I stand before you today on behalf of the League of Northern Democrats. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity to meet with you, a towering symbol of Nigeria’s unity, strength and resilience. Your Excellency, we cherish the privilege of this audience, after months of seeking to engage with you. We deeply appreciate it!
3. First, let us congratulate you on your 90th birthday – a milestone that reflects a life of unparalleled service and dedication to our great nation! As Dr. Akinwumi Adesina so eloquently articulated in his paper as Guest Speaker during the celebration, your vision and legacy remain cornerstones of Nigeria’s progress. Indeed, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo also aptly observed then, you are one of the few leaders whose exemplary deeds are celebrated during their lifetime. Sir, we proudly stand with all well-meaning Nigerians to uphold and champion the legacy of unity and integrity that you so manifestly embody.
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4. Your Excellency, the League of Northern Democrats was born out of a shared sense of urgency and responsibility among Northern elites to address the critical challenges facing our region. At its heart, LND is a movement of patriots united by the conviction that the sacrifices made under your leadership to preserve Nigeria’s unity must never be in vain.
5. Sir, LND is made up of distinguished individuals who have excelled in public service, private enterprise, and other sectors, and descendants of Northern patriots and heroes whose legacies inspire us to build a better tomorrow. Together, we seek to reposition the North as a bastion of political, economic and cultural influence – a North that reclaims its historical role as a beacon of leadership in Nigeria!
6. Sir, there is very little we can tell you that you may not have averted your mind on. But the challenges we face today – disunity, poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, drug addiction and the erosion of societal values – demand urgent and deliberate action. As you have often reminded us, if people do not rise to address their own issues, no one else will. This ethos of self-reliance and collective responsibility inspired the formation of the LND as a platform for proactive and collaborative solutions to our problems.
7. The mission of the LND is encapsulated in our objectives:
i. To foster unity and brotherhood across the diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups of Northern Nigeria, strengthening our common destiny;
ii. To build enduring political networks that promote dialogue, consultation and collaboration among Northern elites, ensuring the North’s strategic influence in Nigeria’s politics;
iii. To harness our collective resources to combat poverty, create opportunities for our youth, and secure sustainable development for the region; and
iv. To devise practical strategies for conflict resolution, peaceful coexistence and a renewed sense of community in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious polity.
8. Your Excellency, we have already begun forging alliances to realize this vision. We have met with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) under the leadership of Prof. Ango Abdullahi, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) under Alhaji. Bashir Dalhatu, and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) under Dr. Bitrus Pogu, and we are engaging other key stakeholders across the North. Our ultimate aim is to build bridges that unite the North and extend hands of fellowship to the South, thereby complementing your commitment to solidifying Nigeria as one indivisible entity.
9. Let me emphasize, Your Excellency, that the LND is not an opposition group. We are not here to undermine or challenge the government, but to complement its efforts in addressing the North’s pressing challenges. If the North thrives, Nigeria prospers. If the North falters, the entire nation bears the weight of its collapse.
10. To consolidate these efforts, Your Excellency, we are planning a Northern Nigerian Political Summit in Kaduna. This historic gathering will bring together stakeholders and leaders of thought to deliberate on our shared challenges and chart a new course for progress. We humbly and passionately request that you support the initiative, so that your leadership and wisdom would illuminate the path forward and inspire the next generation to carry the torch of unity and progress. We hope to return to you soon on this, sir.
11. In closing, Your Excellency, we reaffirm our gratitude for your unwavering dedication to Nigeria and your enduring belief in its promise. We pray for your continued health, strength, and long life, so that your legacy may continue to inspire and guide us toward a brighter future.
12. Thank you for receiving us today and for allowing us to share with you our vision of a united and thriving North and Nigeria.
Long Live Northern Nigeria!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
