Senate president, Bukola Saraki has advised Nigerians not to berate President Muhammadu Buhari over his call on World bank to focus on the Northeast.
Speaking in an interview at the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saraki said Northeast requires priority attention due to high level of devastation caused by Boko Haram.
Saraki stressed that conflicts in other regions were not undermined but that northeast region was of greater danger. “I am not saying there are no issues in other regions of the country but you will agree with me that it is the greatest danger faced by the country,” Saraki said.
Recently, the World Bank disclosed that Buhari asked it to concentrate on Northern Nigeria; a report which generated heavy criticisms.
Saraki, however, said, “It is only that now because of the achievement of the federal government, we are all getting a bit relaxed and asking questions about focusing on rebuilding the area or not.’’
“The level of IDPs in Nigeria though not as much as much as in Syria but it is very high, second highest.
“So, the international community must hold a conference to be able to raise enough money and awareness.
“That kind of conference will bring in more donors and agencies that will contribute to to rebuild the Northeast.
“We have not made much progress in rebuilding the Northeast because we cannot do it alone.
“The issue is how to sustain the peace that exists in the region enough to relocate people to their homes. That is where we are and that is the difficult part.
“However, we must commend the men and women in uniform, the Federal Government in providing funding and the support of the National Assembly.
“Now there is relative peace, though there are still sporadic attacks but not as much as it was a few years ago,’’ Saraki said.
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