Northern Elders Forum Gathered For What Purpose?

I watched the live coverage of the proceedings at the Northern Elders Forum yesterday where various speakers took their turns to speak and could not help but wonder what the intent or motive of such gathering of the elites of the North was meant to achieve.In a region where the slitting of throats and maiming of innocent citizens including women and children has become the norm,i never expected any right thinking Northern Elder to make statements in any form whatsoever to incite the already volatile northern populace.
The speech of the keynote speaker at the forum Hakeem Baba Ahmed to me was dissappointing and completely uncalled for considering the security challenges faced by the north at this moment.He said"The conference is targeted at two or three areas.One,it is being organised to blackmail the north because it is going to be an instrument of political blackmail,the short term reward of it is 2015.It will also be used to create a climate of division by bringing about issues that tend to divide us in the country and the north in particular.The crisis on ground should not have started if politics is not involved.The aim is to portray the north as anti-south,anti-christianity and anti President Jonathan who took power from the north,if we go there,fine,but to me,it is a waste of time".He made many other uncomplimentary statements laced with ethnic and religious sentiments.Suffice it to say that most dissappointing was the shameless manner in which subsequent speakers made reference to Hakeem's cowardly declarations as not only the best but also all encompassing.My question now is,has Hakeen Baba Ahmed ever brought any solution to the many problems facing the northern part of Nigeria?I subscribe more to the speech made by elder statesman Maitama Sule in which he extolled the virtues of love,harmony and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians regardless of tribe or religion.These are the qualities all northern elders should preach if they are sincerely in search of peace and tranquility in the north in particular and Nigeria in general.
I commend the practical approach of the Chief of Army Staff  Lt-Gen.Kenneth Minimah and other Service Chiefs in making sure insurgency is brought to an end.Not forgeting our indomitable President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the builder.
I wish Nigerians best of luck in our efforts towards achieveving peace in our nation.