Buhari's ex-minister cries out "Life in Nigeria has never been so tough"

Ogbe, who was a former Minister of Agriculture during President Muhammadu Buhari's first term, said this in Kaduna yesterday at the maiden meeting of the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) of ACF.

He said the Northern part of the country was faced with the problems of killings day and night which are greater than ever, except in 1966.

The former Minister said, "We have not faced this challenge before: Killings day and night. At no time has life been so tough except during the civil war."

Audu Ogbe's position was contained In a communiqu├® issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Forum's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe..

The communique quoted him as saying that "78% of Nigerian land mass is in the north and we are faced with the problems of killings day and night which are greater than ever, except during the civil war.

"Our responsibility now is greater than before. We have not faced this challenge before: Killings day and night. At no time has life been so tough except during the civil war."

He warned that "if we do not save the north now, we will lose the North.

"Because of the existing tensions and crises leading to a general sense of insecurity, destruction of property and killings in the north, religious, ethnic, traditional and political leaders in the north should be cautious in their utterances and should refrain from making wild and inflammatory utterances that will aggravate the situation."

"Federal and state governments must take urgent steps to arrest the deteriorating security situation in northern Nigeria which has led to insurgency, terrorism, banditry, ethnic and religious disturbances all over the north.

"The government, particularly state governments of the northern region should pay adequate attention to agriculture which offers more opportunities for diversification and the development of a more sustainable economy for the north and the country," part of the communique read.