By Stephen Simon
Former Governor of Jigawa State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Sule Lamido, has attributed the persistent insecurity in Northern Nigeria to poor leadership and the collapse of moral upbringing in society.
Lamido made the remarks during an interview with Premier Radio Kano on Wednesday, where he said northerners must take responsibility for the worsening security situation in the region.
According to him, the North urgently needs to rebuild discipline and strengthen moral values among young people, warning that neglect of proper upbringing has contributed significantly to the crisis.
He also accused political leaders of failing in their core responsibility of protecting lives and property, saying many have become more focused on political ambitions than governance.
“Northerners should blame themselves for the insecurity confronting the region. Politicians are contributing to the destruction of young people’s lives, and that is worsening the security situation because of how they manipulate and neglect the youth,” Lamido said.
The former governor maintained that those involved in insurgency and banditry are largely indigenes of the region, stressing that the problem is internal rather than external.
“Where are Boko Haram members and bandits coming from? They are our children from the North. They were not thrown from the sky. They are among us, and today they seem stronger than us because of moral decay. The fault is ours, and we must fix it, starting from the foundation and proper upbringing at home,” he added.
Lamido also expressed support for the establishment of state police, noting that it could help address insecurity more effectively if properly structured.
He, however, cautioned that any state policing system must be backed by adequate training, discipline, and clear operational guidelines.
“There is nothing wrong with state police, but they must be properly trained and guided on how to carry out their duties,” he said.
“It is disturbing that a northerner can arrest a fellow northerner and demand ransom. What kind of morality is that? Meanwhile, leaders are only focused on politics,” he added.
Lamido further stressed that justice, fairness, and accountability among Northerners remain essential to restoring peace and stability in the region.
