Promote unity, support communities you reside in---- Senator Barau tells Northerners living in South

By Ibrahim Hamisu.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has tasked Northerners living in the southern part of the country to always be united and support the communities they are residing in to promote peace for national unity and development. 

Senator Barau made the call when he hosted leaders of the Hausa communities in the six states of the South-West when they visited him in his office at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Friday.

In a statement issues by S.A to the deputy presdent of the senate on Media and publicity, Ismail Mudashir said,  he said Nigeria, a country with diverse ethnic groups, requires unity and brotherhood among its various ethnicities, adding that the constitution of the country has given the right for the citizens to live wherever they want, provided they will be law-abiding. 

"We are all aware of the fact that you are living peacefully with people there in the South. All we want from you is to continue to support the states you are living in for peace and unity to be maintained. 

"You have told me your problems and challenges. I will look at them and see how I can play my role in solving them. What I want to implore you is that you should regard the states you are residing in as your home," he said. 

Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing grains to cushion the rising cost of food items in the country, he urged governors and local government chairmen to take a cue from the President.

"He has done what is expected of him. Mr. President is a very kind person. He has been doing this even before he became the president. So, as always, this time around too, he demonstrated that good quality.

"What is needed here is that everyone should be on board, particularly state and local governments. State governments are now doing very well. They are getting more money because of the removal of fuel subsidies. They are also reaching out to the people in their states to be giving out food items to those in need. 

“I am urging all governors to take a cue from our president; and the local governments as well. Because the federal, state and local governments all must make sure that we deal with our problems in a collective manner," he said.

He said he would distribute rice to 200,000 households as part of his contribution to efforts at addressing the rising cost of food in the country.

 Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Sarkin Hausawan Shagamu in Ogun State, Alhaji Inuwa Garba, said they are being sidelined in the areas of education and employment in the South West.

"We are not being carried along. We are marginalized. Our children cannot be admitted into tertiary institutions in the South even though they were born there. We send them to the North after secondary school for tertiary education. And after they graduate they are again not considered for employment in the South. 

"We don't benefit from both federal and state scholarships in the South. We are also facing security threats, especially in Ondo. Some of our people are being arrested and sent to prison for offences unknown to them. Recently, some of our people who came for hunting were arrested and sent to prison," he said. 

He commended Senator Barau for extending his various empowerment initiatives to the three senatorial districts of Kano State.