By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
Former governor of Sokoto State and Senator representing Sokoto North, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has appealed to all Nigerians to always volunteer useful intelligence tips to the security agencies so as to help them in the ongoing war against insecurity confronting the nation.
Wamakko, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Defence and also the Senate's Deputy Committee Chairman on Anti Corruption, added that all hands must be on deck to help protect the law-abiding citizens of this country.
Speaking on Tuesday at the finals of the Hausa Poetry Competition on Security Challenges in Northern Nigeria, organized by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, (UDUS) Wamakko averred that, "Ensuring security is a collective agreement of all, including the government and the citizens."
Wamakko while re-emphasizing that it is only when there is a collective action towards fighting the menace of insecurity in the country that the nation can be relatively safe. He appealed to the management of UDUS to constitute a forum of scholars with an Endowment Fund that will enable them to translate Scientific and Engineering books written in English into the Hausa Language.
Wamakko who assured of his assistance to the proposed project noted that no nation can develop while relying on a foreign language. He, therefore, cited countries like China, Korea, and Japan that had fully developed using their local languages in imparting knowledge.
Appreciating UDUS for the foresight, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa' ad Abubakar 111, said the theme of the occasion was very apt.
The Sultan who was represented by the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar, called on Nigerians of whatever faith to pray for divine intervention in combating the security challenges ravaging Nigeria.
On their part, both the Emir of Yauri, Dr. Zayyanu Abdullahi, represented by Alhaji Kasimu Aliyu, and the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera, aligned with the Sultan's position that the event couldn't have come at a better time than now when Nigeria was seriously facing recurring security challenges.
Giving insight into the event, the Vice-Chancellor of UDUS, Professor Lawal Bilbis, said the event was organized to facilitate the return of peace and unity to the North and other parts of the country. He further assured that the forthcoming second phase of the competition will be in Fulani language (Fulfulde) adding that, "We want to use poetry to change the mindsets of Nigerians on peace, unity, and security".
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Aliyu Usman Tilde, challenged Hausa Poets to come up with various songs to help in stemming the tide of insecurity in the country.
In a paper presented by Professor Aliyu Bunza of the Faculty of Nigerian Languages of the Institution, he agreed that only a collective responsibility will help in tackling the present wave of insecurity in the country.
Bunza also appealed to the federal government to consider an urgent upward review of the salaries of the security agencies, just as he appealed for improving their retirement benefits, getting befitting burials when they die in the line of duty, as well as taking good care of the families of deceased Officers, among other solutions to the menace. NNL.
