By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Governors of the six states in the northeast are currently in closed door session of their forum’s sixth meeting, holding in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.
The meeting is being led by Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum who is chairman of the Northeast Governors Forum and hosted by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe. Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe is in attendance while Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi and Taraba are being represented by their deputies.
At the ceremonial opening of the meeting, held at the banquet hall of the Government House, Governor Zulum gave an overview of the forum’s activities, and reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to ensuring peace and stability of the geo-political zone.
The chairman noted that recent developments in the fight against the terrorism has indicated the beginning of the end to the insurgency in the northeast region.
He however called on the military to intensify operations to free the zone of terror.
“ I want to call on the Nigerian military to reach into the enclaves of the insurgents (who are not ready to lay down their arms), we must pursue them. For us to get rid of this crisis, we have to ensure that the remnants of the insurgents are pursued to their enclaves and neutralized” Zulum said.
Zulum said unless Boko Haram is brought to an end, there will be impediments to the overall growth and development of all the six states.
In his welcome address, Governor Mai Mala Buni affirmed his commitment to the objectives of the forum.
Governor Buni spoke on the security situation, the military’s progress and the need for all stakeholders to sustain their collaboration in the fight against insurgents.
He listed some gains being recorded by his administration and promised to continue in that direction in line with the vision of the northeast governors forum.
After the ceremonial opening, the Governors left the banquet hall for a closed door meeting, during which they will listen to some reports and discuss issues of security, power, interventions by the North-East Development Commission, among others.
A communique with some resolutions, is expected later tonight at the end of the meeting.
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