President Obasanjo Advice LND To Go National As Gen. TY Danjuma Pledges Support

President Obasanjo advice LND to go national as Gen. TY Danjuma pledges support.

From Umar Dankano,Yola.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised the League of Northern Democrats, LND to expand its scope of coverage beyond regional to a national body.

Obasanjo gave the advice while hosting the a delegation of the league led by its chairman, former Kano state Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau in Abeokuta yesterday expressing delight with the foresight of the group over the challenges bedeliviling not only the northern region but nation as a whole.

He said with the caliber of membership of the delegation, he is confident something good will come out of it thanking Shekarau and the 20 member delegation for their concerns and commitment.

He also commended the group for taking the trouble to come to Abeokuta in spite of the hash economic situation in the country. He also commended Dr. Umar Ardo for the foresight of convening the group.

“Anytime you people metamorphose into a League of Nigerian Democrats, come back to me and I will be your patron. I share your concern of the situation in Nigeria, but if you’re a National League, I will join you and even be your Patron if I cannot be active because I’m getting old,” Obasanjo said.

Earlier, Shekarau informed President Obasanjo that, the group was with him to tap from his wealth of experience in governance and leadership.

In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, thank God for the life of President Obasanjo who he described as the most nationalistic and detribalized Nigerian alive.

However, in a related development, a former Chief of Army Staff and former Minister of Defense, General Theophilus Yakubu  Danjuma, has decried that the standard and quality of political leadership in the country is declining at an alarming rate warning those in authority to take immediate steps to stem the tide.

General Danjuma stated this when he received the Delegation of the League of Northern Democrats who called on him in his Ikoyi Residence in Lagos.

In his  words “leadership quality in Nigeria is going down and down and down”.

He observed with dismay that,the situation is worse in the North urging the leaders to sit up and stem the worrisome tide.

He advised the League of Northern Democrats to pursue their vision with measured doggedness because they are up against a section of a corrupt political class with plenty of power and money that will be ready to fight back to continue being in power.

Earlier in his remarks the leader of the LND Delegation, Sen.Ibrahim Shekarau, said that, their visit was to brief General Danjuma on the vision and mission of the League which include principally to influence the emergence of credible leadership, most especially in the North, by forging unity among the various interest groups in the North, facilitate for a credible leadership recruitment process across all offices and make the North a bloc of first influence in Nigeria.

Shekarau said right now the North is immersed in insecurity and backwardness in education, economy and in general development adding that,the League of Northern Democrats is intensifying contacts and consultations with eminent statesmen to tap into their vast knowledge on politics and leadership which are crucial to society.

Responding again, General Danjuma said while age is not on his side, he however commended the League for this initiative and its commitment promising to support the group where he can.

Danjuma who was noticed to emotional while a member of the delegation and a  Son to late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Muktari recounted  the events of January, 1966, said the late Sir Abubakar was truly a great man.

It can be recalled that the LND was conveyed in July and since then it has been engaged in several activities, making consultations and trying to define itself gaining

good grounds with the former Vice President Namadi Sambo, General Martin Luther Agwai, General AbdulRahman Dambazau, General Alwali Kazir, and a host of oth