President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to find a lasting solution to Nigeria’s security challenges adding that his administration fully understands the urgency of Nigeria’s security issues.

The President on Monday, February 12 held a meeting with security chiefs and some top government officials at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The meeting also had in attendance the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Members of the Middle Belt Youth Council have said that the agenda of the North has always been to dominate the region and the South politically, stressing that the development has to change in the next general elections. The President of the Council, Emma Zopmal, who spoke to Punch on Sunday, stated that the northern elders had the right to aspire for an alliance with the South, adding that the Middle Belt can negotiate its own future.

Political stakeholders in the North on Saturday floated a new political group known as the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) in order to counter the Coalition for Nigeria established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to chart a new political course for the country ahead of the next general election.

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the heads of various security agencies in the country. The meeting is reportedly taking place inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Also in attendance are the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Mohammed Adamu Bello says the political differences between former Governor of Kano state, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso and the incumbent Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje would be exploited by his party in the 2019 general elections.

Bello Mohammed addressing Northern elders

Some Northern political elite have started consultations preparatory for a political alliance with other geo-political zones based on unity, equity and justice. The elite, who converged on Abuja on Saturday, under the aegis of Northern Elders and Stakeholders Conversation, said they would work towards promoting Northern unity ahead of 2019 presidential election. The meeting was co-convened by Dr Bello Mohammed, former Minister of Defence, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, former Deputy Senate President and Sen. Paul Wampana.