North's Values and Leadership Direction Criticized

At the third edition of the Late Gen Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference held at Arewa House in Kaduna, Professor Ango Abdullahi, the Convener of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), lamented the North's loss of values and leadership direction. He stated that the region must retrace its values to those upheld by past leaders to regain its former path.

Abdullahi emphasized that the North's decline stems from moral and leadership failures rather than a lack of physical development. He noted that while cities in the North have expanded physically, essential virtues such as discipline, honesty, and selfless leadership have diminished.

He urged Northern leaders to learn from Gen Hassan Katsina, who exemplified integrity and service. In a keynote address, Prof Usman Bugaje echoed these sentiments, highlighting the North's economic decline, insecurity, and institutional collapse, attributing these issues to a drift from the leadership ideals of figures like Katsina.

Bugaje criticized the complacency of the Northern elite, who he believes fail to provide practical solutions to the region's challenges.