Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shetima, has called on fellow northern governors to do everything within their power to change the fortune of their region.
Shettima said it was time to change the north, by fighting against poverty, terrorism, division, unemployment and intolerance among the people.
He stated this on Friday, during a meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum, in Kaduna.
The governor challenged his colleagues to take advantage of their historic opportunity to change the negative perception of the north as well as improve the lives of their people.
He said: “Today, our region has become a thriving nest for war, terrorism, deep seated social divisions, senseless violence, mind-boggling intolerance, injustice, destitution, joblessness and all manner of social vices, the height of which is the madness called Boko Haram.
“Things have become so bad, so much that we can say without contradiction that poverty now glaringly wears a bold Northern Face.
“We have turned our region into a laughing stock, derided by friends and foes alike, and, without justification, as having dragged the rest of the country down with us.
“No amount of lamentation will, of course, solve our problems. We need to act, and fast too. This generation of northern leaders, led by us the governors, have both moral and constitutional responsibility as well as a historic opportunity to reverse the negative fortunes of our people.
“We must do everything in our power to restore and entrench the lofty values of unity, understanding, tolerance, mutual respect, empathy, justice and mutual coexistence in the minds of our people and region.
“We must firmly and decisively commit ourselves to fighting poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, terrorism and other forms of violent crimes in the north.”
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