Tinubu deliberately appointed Northerners in key positions — Ribadu

The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu said
President Bola Tinubu deliberately appointed northerners into key positions.

Ribadu stated this while delivering lecture on “Navigating
The Maze: Addressing Multi-Dimensional Insecurity Challenges In Northern
Nigeria” as part of the activities marking the 38,39,40 and 41st combined
convocation of Usmanu Danfordiyo University, Sokoto.

He said the President picked northerners to take charge of
strategic places because he wanted problems in the region squarely addressed.

The NSA lamented that the North was facing myriad of
challenges, ranging from insecurity and out-of-school children, among others.

According to Ribadu, the poverty index in the region was
alarming.

Ribadu said, “At the time he (Tinubu) was forming this
government, he said the North was very dear to his heart that he would do
everything to address its challenges.

“This is why he appointed northerners into key offices. He
handed over security and Defence to the North. He gave us both ministers for
Agriculture and Education. He also gave us Minister of Health and Foreign
Affairs in his quest to turn around the fortune of the region.

“He gave us chance. Now the rest is on us, we northerners.
Lets put our differences aside and work for the betterment of our region and
Nigeria,” he said.

On the insecurity, he said the present government had
achieved a lot, citing cases of some bandit commanders who were recently killed
by security operatives and tens of thousands of kidnapped victims rescued
without paying a dime.

“As I am talking to you, there is no known case of student
abduction of students that is unresolved anywhere in the country. And where are
bandits’ leaders like Ali Kawaje, Boderi, Damina and Dangote? They have all
been eliminated.”

“In the past we have had cases of organised terrorism
attacks by insurgents groups like what their attacks on our train, military
formations, or churches. Since we got in there has not been anything like that.

 “And go to Niger
Delta, it is peaceful today. In the East people were been stopped and killed,
there were over 40 police stations shut down but all of them are now
functional. All these changes happened because we work.

“We will continue to work. We are not jokers. We are serious
and in Sha Allah, Nigeria will see the difference,” he said.

According to Ribadu, Tinubu’s government is adopting
counterinsurgency strategies aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the local
population, isolating insurgents from their support base and preventing the
recruitment of new members.

“These strategies involve engaging with communities,
providing humanitarian assistance and promoting reconciliation and deradicalization
programme.”

“This sort of approach is a core focus of the Renewed Hope
Agenda. Its initiatives include infrastructural development, job creation,
education and healthcare provision as well as efforts to tackle poverty and
inequality,” he said