General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was the only invited dignitary who graced the Northern Peace Forum which commenced in African House, Kano Government House Thursday.
Other northern leaders who were invited for the three-day occasion shunned the meeting and did not disclose their reasons for doing so.
Those who were absent at the peace initiative were former heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon, who was expected to chair the occasion , ex-president Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abubakar Abdusalam and former vice president , Atiku Abubakar.
Vice president Namadi Sambo, who was special guest of honour was also missing on the occasion as well as Senate president David Mark, speaker of House of Representatives , Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambulwa and chairman speaker’s forum of Nigeria, Hon Inuwa Garba.
Northern governors from the region also boycotted yesterday’s Northern leaders summit held at the African Hall of the Kano state government house as no reasons was given for their absence in such an important Northern gathering which was widely publicized
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC ) and presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who was the only invited guest among those publicized in the programme of event was the only person who turn-up and was asked to chair the occasion in the absence Gen Gowon.
The event which was slated for three days from yesterday was tagged ‘ Northern Development Focus Initiative’ (NDFI)has Alhaji Usman Farouk, former military administrator North West region, in his opening remarks record that similar efforts in the past aimed at bringing the North together to discussed issues affecting the region fell short of people expectation because they were more of academic exercises without tangible solution to the region problems.
He said the NDFI having noted the security and socio-economic of the region, is determined to use the forum to find lasting solution to problems afflicting the region, pointing out that it is the duty of everyone to pull resources together to ensure solution to them is found.
The gathering called on the federal government to institute a judicial commission of enquiry to find out the remote and immediate causes of the Boko Haram saga including how it started , those who patronized and benefited from it.
He also demanded that the federal government should immediately set up Northern Nigeria restoration, reformation and rehabilitation programme unconditionally with Boko Haram and other youths of Northern Nigeria as well as was done to the Niger Delta Militants and Youths groups.