Yero To Ensure Political Stability In Northern Nigeria – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday in Abuja tasked the Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, to use the state’s strategic position to stabilise the politics in Northern Nigeria.Jonathan gave the governor the task at the Presidential Villa where he received a delegation from the state led by the governor on condolence and solidarity visit.

The President noted that by its strategic position, Kaduna State was the melting point of Northern politics.

“Kaduna State is the fulcrum of the Northern politics and it is where everything revolved round.

“So, governing Kaduna State is really carrying a lot of responsibilities because your duty is beyond making food available on the table of the Kaduna people, but you have the duty to even stabilise the politics of Northern Nigeria especially.

“This is because Kaduna State is where most things happen. So you have a big responsibility and God will give you the wisdom to handle it.’’

Jonathan advised the governor to secure the supports and solidarity of the leaders in the State to succeed in the task.

“To succeed requires the support of your people, luckily the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and other members of the State Assembly are here with you.

“By working together with them and other leaders, you will surely succeed.’’

He assured the delegation of the Federal Government’s support and his own personal support.

The president noted that his relationship with the State had been further cemented with the unfortunate helicopter crash of Dec. 15 last year in Bayelsa.

He said the crash, which took the lives of the former State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, and the former National Security Adviser, Andrew Owoye-Azazi from Bayelsa established a permanent bond between him and the state.

“It is something that cannot be erased that has brought a permanent bond between me as a person with my good brothers and sisters from Kaduna State.''

He thanked the delegation for the visit and assured that he would continue to work with the State.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, an indigene of the state, welcomed the delegation and prayed for the repose of the souls of the late Yakowa, Azazi and four other people that lost their lives in the crash.

Earlier, Yero had said the visit was to show solidarity to the Federal Government and to condole with the President on the unfortunate incidence of the helicopter crash and the death of his younger brother, Chief Meni.

The Kaduna governor expressed appreciation to the President for the support he had rendered to the State since the death of the former governor.

“With your support and guide, we have been able to come out of our moment of grief stronger as a people and the government.

“We owe you gratitude for ensuring a smooth democratic transition in our State.

“Let me therefore on behalf of government and people of Kaduna State expressed our absolute loyalty to you, your government and to your leadership of our great Party, the PDP and the country.

“We are fully in support of Mr President’s transformation agenda which is already yielding fruits to the people of Nigeria and we shall continue to work hard to support all efforts by the Goodluck/Sambo Administration.’’

Some members of the delegation include, former Kaduna Governor, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Sen. Nenadi Usman, and former Military Governor of the Old Rivers State, Zamani Lekwot.

The State Deputy Governor, Speaker and some members of the State House of Assembly, traditional rulers and religious leaders were also in the delegation.