Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on governors of the 19 northern states to emulate the good examples of their past leaders as a panacea to the problems currently bedevilling the region.
Prof. Osinbajo appealed to the governors to be selfless and shun the desire to amass needless wealth, money that could be put to good use in bringing development to the region and bettering the lot of the common folk.
He made this appeals on Saturday at the Northern Reawakening Forum Summit themed “Building a Safe, Secure and Economically-Inclusive Northern Nigeria” and held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
According to him, “Our history reminds us of the visionary leaders in Nigeria, who fired our imagination through their vision, diligence and selfless service, who did not live or fight to enrich themselves; they did not leave vast personal estates behind, but their names and legacies live in the hearts of the people.
“Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mallam Aminu Kano, J. S. Tarka and countless others clearly understood the varied issues afflicting the region, thought through them, laid the plans and worked selflessly to realize them”.
The Vice President’s position reiterates that of the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima who had at a Northern Governors’ Forum on Friday called on the northern leaders to rise above personal considerations to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people.