By Mohammed Suleiman, Dutse.
Perticipants at a Town Hall meeting on the persistent socio- economic challenges facing Nigeria have called on the government and policy-makers to as a matter of urgency, take urgent steps to end the challenges.
The meeting which was held at the Banquet Hall Govt House, Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, was attended by 37 Unions, Emirs, others and was at the instance of the State Governor, Umar Namadi
Governor Namadi called on members of the public to exercise patient as they will remain resolute in advising the government to come up with more measures that will provide permanent solutions to the persistent social and economic challenges facing the country.
The meeting delt extensively on how to join hands together to tackle the economic challenges. It urged people to be more patient and counsel the Youths not to be agents of distabilization. Traditional rulers, and others also appealed to Youths in the State not to allow anybody to mislead them into joining the proposed August Nationwide Protest which might affect the country’s peace and stability .
Also at the meeting, were executives, legislatures, political leaders, heads of security agencies, the media, trade unions, civil society groups, student unions, community organizations, women groups, youth groups, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.
Speaking at the opening, Jigawa state Governor Umar Namadi acknowledged the hardship in Nigeria but assured the people that leaders at all levels were working hard to liberate the country from the economic crunch.
He told the people that, the critical problems confronting the nation calls for prayer, hard work, perseverance, and collaborative efforts to tackle them.
He noted that street protests can’t change it rather it may end up aggravating the situation, lead to breakdown of law and order citing similar situations in some countries.
Namadi begged the Jigawa youth to uphold their cultural and moral discipline which taught them to fear Allah, be trustworthy, and refrain from any act that may cause
breakdown of peace and stability.
While calling on the participants to thoroughly discuss and advise the government on measures to be taken to ensure the maintenance of law and order, the government at the same time was working to address the economic challenges.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs and Emir of Hadejia, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje assured the governor that, they will work closely with religious leaders, community leaders, and all stakeholders to ensure the maintenance of peace and stability in the state.
He also charged Youths, and other members of the public to be patient as they will remain resolute in advising the government to come up with more measures that will provide permanent solutions to the persistent social and economic challenges of Nigeria.
Speaking in the same vein, the Emir of Dutse, Hameen Nuhu Sanusi, called on the participants to be bold in talking to their followers on the need to be law-abiding citizens and advised the government on measures needed to be taken to tackle the existing challenges.
In their submissions, the Chairman of Jigawa State Council of Ulamas Justice Khadi Bashir (Rtd), noted that Nigeria is passing through one of the trails and difficult time hence the need for everyone to correct his mistakes, while government should take adequate measures to ameliorate the present difficulties in the land..