Former National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has described the northern states as the region with the highest indexes of social challenges bedeviling Nigeria.

Jega said this during the Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series organised by the Coalition of Northern Nigeria (CNG) on Monday in Katsina even as he challenged Northern leaders to imbibe a selfless leadership.

He noted that the fundamental causes of the crises originate from poor leadership and selfishness, with narrow vision and ideas to develop Nigeria.

Jega said, “Whether it is poverty, unemployment, insecurity, infant mortality, out-of-school children, poor girl-child education, or even early marriage challenges.

“Everything you can think of, the terrible statistics always come from the northern part of this country”, he said.

Jega urged northern leaders to emulate erstwhile northern leaders, such as Maitama Sule and others, who led the country at their youthful ages, and each did very well in protecting and developing the region and ensuring its integrity, NAN reports.

“But several decades later while cherishing these heroes’ past memories of leaders, what kind of leadership qualities does the north have now,” Jega asked.

He urged the youth to take up the great task of developing themselves through active participation in politics in order not to let vandals destroy the nation economically.