RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE AND ETHNICITY PIVOTAL TO POVERTY- YAYALE AHMED 08-11-23
By Sadiq Aminu A former Secretary to the government of the federation Dr Yayale Ahmed, says religious intolerance and ethnicity are pivotal to poverty and disunity in northern Nigeria.
Dr Ahmed made the remark in Abuja, at a one day dialogue session organized by the Arewa New Agenda, with the theme; Renewed hope- the road to ending poverty in Nigeria.
He observed that religious differences and ethnicity has continued to prevent the north from developing adding that unless there is a change, the region would never be relevant in the scheme of things in Nigeria.
The Convener Arewa New Agenda Senator Ahmad Abubakar, said the association has held sensitisation on the removal of subsidy, as well as strengthening dialogue amongst ethno-religious groups in the North to enhance peaceful co-existance.
Senator Abubakar explained that the objective of the dialogue is to propose a call to action for Nigerians in the desire to end poverty.
A former Deputy Senate leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, remarked that the struggle for emerging economies of the world is essentially the struggle for the reduction of poverty amongst the population.
Senator Zwingina list some of the steps necessary to eradicate poverty, which includes training of small scale farmers, gender equity in communities as well as provision of free education to all.
Participants at the dialogue includes politicians, the academia and retired military officers amongst others.