By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

Northern Elders and South East leaders have charged President Muhammadu Buhari to be more open-minded to demands of Nigerians for substantive change in the structure of the country.

The Northern elders and South East leaders made this charge during a meeting under the Co-chairmanship of Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, Ag Convener, Northern Elders Forum, and Ambassador Prof George Obiozor, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Wednesday in Abuja.

News Express learnt through a communique jointly signed by Kwande and Obiozor that the meeting expressed concerns over the security situation and tasked the Federal Government on improving the security of communities all over the country.

Equally, they raised concerns on strengthening the unity of the country and urged steps to be taken to “address disaffection with the nature of our Federal system and the entrenchment of the values of justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians into our structures, processes and law”.

They noted with concern in particular, the security and livelihood of Northerners living in the South East and Igbo people living in the North of Nigeria.

They stressed the need to improve the capacity of security agencies in order to position them to deal with threats to the country.

The North and South East leaders also expressed worries over what they described as “damage of misperception, misinformation and the alienation of particularly young people from mainstream economic and political activities are feeding restiveness, fear and distances between Nigerian people”.

They also emphasised the importance of elites and elders engaging in sincere and constructive activities to build bridges and recover lost grounds which is hurting all Nigerians.

The meeting resolved to explore other opportunities to improve understanding and goodwill between the North and South East and all Nigerians, while they pledged to sustain the gains of the meeting.

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