The North-west Caucus in the House of Representatives has said the North-west Development Commission will bring renewed hope to the geopolitical zone whose social fabric and mental well-being had been brutalised by senseless violence that remained unabating and intractable.
The caucus chaired by Hon. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) said this at a press conference at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja yesterday on the heels of the signing into law of the North-west Development Commission Bill by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
Soli expressed hope that the commission would cause the rebuilding of the region ruined infrastructure, from roads, schools, health facilities and markets, to homes and places of worship, business premises and other social amenities.
He said the sporadic attacks in the geopolitical zone had since escalated into a multidimensional crisis that hampered agricultural activities and trade, and turned some of the most industrious and thriving communities in the North-west into ghost towns as people flee their homes and become refugees.
The chairman said the commission was a tremendous boost to the valiant efforts of the governors of the North-west geopolitical zone and it had further justified their trust in President Tinubu’s commitment to help revamp the geopolitical zone and place it on a sound pedestal.
He however appealed to the president to intensify efforts in addressing the security challenges still prevalent in the geopolitical zone particularly, and other parts of the country.
The lawmaker said a broader security sector reform would enable people of the zone to return to their normal lives, leading to positive changes in economic development and social order.
“On behalf of the members of the entire members of the North West Caucus in the House of Representatives and the millions of people we represent, we wish to thank President Tinubu for his abiding efforts in leading this country through difficult times and to appeal to Nigerians to continue to give this government their unalloyed support.
“That is why members of the National Assembly, particularly members of the North West Caucus – and indeed other political, traditional and religious leaders in the North West geopolitical zone, do not support the scheduled nationwide protest planned by some elements to further disrupt the very delicate balance of the country right now.
“We appeal to the peaceful and law-abiding people of the North West geopolitical zone, who have suffered enough disruption of their peace, not to join in this potentially destructive exercise, but rather to give governments at both the Federal and State levels more chance to look at the issues concerned.
“May we thank the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau and our leader, Rt. Hon. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, and indeed all members of the North West Caucus in both chambers, including our colleagues and supporters across the country, for their contributions in seeing that this bill was passed and assented to as an act of parliament.
“We join our voices with so many others in calling for similar commitment on the part of those who would be saddled with managing this Commission to ensure that they worked diligently to realize the goals of this bill and the promise it holds for the development of the North West geopolitical zone,” Soli added.
