Speaking to the ADM in an exclusive interview, the new NDC MP for Kumbungu, Alhaji Imoro Yakubu said the NDC, NPP and PNC northern caucuses would merge under one body - the Northern Caucus of Parliament - to drum up the need for peace in the northern regions.

He said plans are far advanced by the three political parties to elect leaders to pave the way for the smooth implementation of their plans. "We need peace in the North and no one can bring peace there if we do not take our own initiatives," he said.

Alhaji Yakubu who replaced Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, the NDC presidential running mate in the 2004 general elections, said part of the plans to bring peace to bear on the people of the three Northern Regions the northern MPs would involve the organizing of forums and rallies, among other outreach programmes in each constituency to talk to the people on peace and unity.

He said on such occasions opinion leaders in the community, irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation would be brought in to contribute their support for peace and tranquility.

"If the people see us moving together as they see us on television in Parliament, they would realise that after all we are one and that we should not allow politics to divide us. I would personally ensure that we take along with us party executives from the minority and majority at the constituency level," he said.

"It is feasible and achievable!" Alhaji Yakubu exclaimed when the ADM asked him whether politicians from both sides could embark on such an initiative.

He appealed to the youth in the three Northern Regions to avoid "the use of provocative, abusive and insulting language against one another. This would not take us anywhere but rather keep drawing us back. They must know that the country belongs to them and need not be deceived by anyone to engage in fights.

They should also dissociate themselves in chieftaincy issues and always call for peace."

He called on opinion leaders and public figures to avoid provocative language when dealing with each other in public because "the youth are learning from them".

The NDC MP praised the Kufuor Administration for establishing the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs when it assumed power in 2001. He said he would be the first to stand against any move by any political party including the NDC that would want to abolish that ministry.

He said the ministry is playing a crucial role in addressing gender issues. Alhaji Yakubu said it is his vision to assist women in his constituency with micro-finance to expand their businesses in areas such as shea butter processing and rice milling to "enable them take good care of their children to have good education…Already I am continuing an education sponsorship scheme to assist senior secondary school students who do not have the means to reach tertiary level.

Seven students have benefited from an amount of ¢2m each."

He said through the assistance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) he would make the agricultural sector another major priority by assisting farmers in his constituency with soft loans to expand their farms to improve their living standards.

He called on the government to include groundnuts in the President's Special Initiative because it is the mainstay of many constituencies in the three northern regions.

Alhaji Yakubu said it is his plan to establish a task force to campaign against HIV/AIDS in the Kumbungu Constituency. This, he explained, would be done in collaboration with the district health authorities who would provide technical advice.

Alhaji Yakubu comes from a constituency in Dagbon, which is regarded as rabidly pro-Andani in the Dagbon conflict. It is on record that an NPP supporter from Tamale popularly called Iran-Iraq was beheaded there during the just ended elections.

It is therefore most significant that one of the first calls for peace and unity in the North during the first sitting of the new parliament should come from the MP of that area.