It also lamented the ongoing feud between Dauda Lawan Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State, and Bello Matawalle, the previous governor and current Minister of State for Defence.

The group, which included well-known northern elders and stakeholders, said that the feuds are a major source of concern for the area, especially at this point in time when the people living there are dealing with issues that are driving them into extreme poverty.

The convener of a ‘One Day Dialogue Session’ organised by the group in Abuja on Thursday with the theme: ‘Renewed Hope: The Road To Ending Poverty In Nigeria’, Senator Ahmed MoAllahyidi said, “ We are concerned that the issue has blown open into the public domain; we wish that a mediation effort has set in to prevent a further public altercation.

“The second one is the fight in the murky waters of politics by former and serving governors of Zamfara State where allegations and counter-allegations rent the air in social media circles amidst a debilitating insecurity affecting the lives of the common people in the state. This show of shame needs to be curtailed immediately.

“As we deliberate today on the current plight of our dear country, it is my hope that the outcome of this dialogue will help policymakers and the citizens chart and strengthen the strategies for combating this avoidable menace that constitutes a clog in the wheel of our national progress.”