Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Friday expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the North, saying over one million people had been killed in the region from 1966 till date.
Buhari made the assertion yesterday, when he paid homage to the Sultan in his palace in Sokoto.
According to him, many people had lost their lives in the North in the past 48 years as a result of banditry, violence, sectarian crisis and the current insurgency.
He noted that Northerners were really suffering at the moment because of the insurgency in the North-east, saying he fought the civil war in order to keep the country as one.
“Our people are in a quagmire and suffering untold hardship because of the insurgency in the North-east and this is a source of worry to us.
“We fought the civil war not for pecuniary gains or to accumulate resources but to strengthen leadership and keep the country as one”, he said.
The former Head of State expressed sadness at the way some leaders were referring to Northerners as parasites, describing it as unfortunate.
He said it was the highest level of insult that could be ascribed to the people of the region and commended Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State for impacting on the lives of the people in education, health and roads infrastructure.
Responding, the monarch pleaded with Buhari to join hands with other political leaders to salvage the country.
He stated that traditional leaders in the North were really worried over the insurgency ravaging the North. He said it was in view of this, that traditional leaders held a meeting in Kaduna recently and subsequently met with President Goodluck Jonathan to offer suggestions on the way out of the quagmire.
“We are really worried about the wanton killings in the North. We receive calls, text messages from people all over the country and we have no other option than to confront this problem.
“And that is why we held a meeting in Kaduna few days ago and subsequently deliberated with President Jonathan for over two and half hours where we gave him suggestions on the way out”, he said.
“So, we have done our best as leaders and made suggestion to the President and it is left for him to take action”, the monarch stated.
He advised political leaders in the country to fear God and do the right thing to move the country forward.
The Sultan therefore, commended Wamakko for his tireless efforts in improving the lives of the people.