The Northern State Governors Forum and Emirs in the region have called for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria.
In a twenty- point resolution adopted at the end of their meeting in Kaduna on Monday, they frowned at what they called devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news.
The Resolution reads:
In furtherance to its resolution to further engage with the critical stakeholders of the North, the Northern States Governors Forum held a meeting today Monday 2nd November, 2020 at the Council Chamber, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
Appreciates the roles of Traditional rulers in containing the menace of Endsars protests in the north. Collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the govemance architecture of the Country.
The meeting rejects and condemns the subversive acțions of the Endsars
Change protest. The superlative agitations and other change-regime actions outside the
ballot Box soon take advantage of the peaceful protests to push for their
seperative agenda. The meeting endorse the indivisibility, indissolubility and
oneness of the Nation.
The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social
media in spreading fake news. Therefore, calls for major control mechanism and
censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria
Meeting raises attention on the need to keep strict watch on the Federal Capital Territory to guide against unwarranted and destructives protests to safeguard critical assets of the Nation.
Meeting ccommends the national Assembly and the Presidency in being proactive in addressing the issues of Endsars protests across the country.
Need to further push for amicable resolutions of ASSU strikes to enable students resume their studies,
Meeting resolved that there is the need for regular meetings of this nature.
Calls for further engagement with other critical stakeholders such as Religious
Leaders, Business community, youths leaders etc. Accordingly, the meeting approved the setting up of two major engagement committees:
(a) Committee on roles of traditional Rulers
Membership:
(i)
Emir of Lafiya as Chairman
(i)
Two Representative from the National Assembly;
(ii) 1 Representative from each of the 3 zones
(iv)
1 from federal Executive Council.
(b)
Committee on Youth and Civil Societies
(i)
Emir of Zazzau as Chairman
(i)
1 representative each from Geo Political Zones
(ii)
1 each for the youth Geo political Zones
(v)
1 representative of Women / Girls
(vi) One each of Muslim and Christian Clerics
(vii) Persons living with disability:
(viii) Business Community
(ix) Representative of the Inspector General of Police
These engagement Committees are to commence work immediately.
10. Appreciates the role of religious leaders, such as the Ulamas, JNI and
CAN for their positive interventions in resolving the Endsars conflicts.
Calls for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the
North e.g. Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, etc
Commends the roles of His Eminence, Royal Highnesses and other Royal
Fathers in ensuring that the Endsars protests did not escalate significantly in the
North by adopting sentimental issues such as ethnicity and religion, the Forum
resolved to continuously engage with their Royal Highnesses in addressing this
challenge.
Meeting noted and appreciated the far reaching efforts of Northerm States
Govemors’ Forum in taking proactive measures to address the Endsars protest
in the country and the North in particular. Equally Forum notes with satisfaction
the actions taken by the Governors to revive the economic fortunes of the region
particularly during the post Covid-19 period.
Forum appreciates the roles of National Assembly in engaging the youths
and other critical stakeholders of the Nation in resolving the Endsars conflicts.
15. Forum appreciate Mr. President and his Cabinet for the quick intervention
in meeting the demands of the Endsars protesters and resolved to give him the
maximum support as he reles out measures to address the lingering challenges of youth unemployment, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
 The Forum also appreciate the roles of the youth for their response to the
Endsars, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist
tendencies.
. Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and
pledges to support Mr. President on this course.
The Meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the
Country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and
the Police.
19. The Meeting expressed concern over the low level involvement of relevant
of stakeholders in the implementation programmes of Government and calls on the
relevant Agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits.
20. Condemned attacks on persons and properties of especially persons
living in other parts of the country. Also condemned attacks and burning of
places of worship in some parts of the country in the name of Endsars protests.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency, the Senate President, of the Federal Republic, the Honourable Deputy Speaker and other members of the National Assembly,
the Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of Information and Culture, the Inspector
General of Police, Principal Officers of the National Assembly, Chaimen of the
Northern States Traditional Rulers Council led by His Eminence the Sultan of
Sokoto amongst others.
After extensive deliberations the following resolutions were arrived at:-
Signed:His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong KSGG,
Chairman, Northen States Governors’ Forum.
