Immediate past Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, disclosed that the North Central Geopolitical zone is instrumental in the development and unity of the country.
Saraki while receiving leaders of the North Central Peoples Forum (NCPF) in his Abuja resident on Friday, noted that the zone need such a vibrant institution to act as its mouthpiece.
He commended the leaders for designing a programme like this to bring peace and development in the zone despite unyielding efforts in the past, to established similar forums.
He said: “Nigeria rely on our resources for development. You can’t talk of the unity of this country without the North Central. I am committed to this project and would support the forum.”
Saraki, However, admonished members forum to up their effort towards the achievement of the forum’s goal.
NCPF Board of Trustees, (BoT) Chairman General Jeremiah Useni, earlier in his comments revealed that there’s a pressing demand need for a development commission to take care of the challenges facing the zone.
Useni while presenting the Forum’s constitution to the Senator stressed that other regions in the country have gotten their commissions and NCPF will not hesitate to have one.
He said,“The northeast got a Commission, northwest elders forum is now trying hard to see whether they can get north west Commission. So, north central where we have a lot of resources cannot sit down and watch. So, we have to come up with this Forum hoping that very soon we will be able to get north central Commission from the Federal Government.”
He further noted that apart from the Commission, the Forum want to ensure peace within its territory, saying that without peace the region cannot do much.