Former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has declared that Northern Nigeria is the architect of its misfortunes, particularly its deepening insecurity and stagnating development. Nigerian cuisine recipes
Speaking as keynote speaker at the 3rd Plenary Session of the Northern Political Consultative Group, held in Abuja, Mark asserted that insecurity in the region is largely self-inflicted, warning that unless the North unites around a collective vision, the region will continue to struggle under the weight of its divisions.
The event, themed “Unity and Social Cohesion as Panacea to the Challenges Facing Northern Nigeria,” provided a platform for Mark to deliver a sobering analysis of the North’s challenges, while urging urgent, deliberate, and collective action. Nigerian cuisine recipes
“We must first admit that we are the architects of our problems. We must stop the blame game if we truly and genuinely want to find a lasting solution,” he said.
Mark lamented the North’s paradox: despite its abundant human and natural resources, it remains the most impoverished region in Nigeria, plagued by high illiteracy, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and widening ethnic and religious divisions.
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“Over the last decade, banditry, terrorism, insurgency, and communal clashes have turned our villages into battlegrounds, displacing millions and crippling our economy,” he stated.
He emphasised that these challenges did not emerge overnight, nor will they disappear without a clear commitment to unity, equity, and purposeful leadership.
“Division has cost us progress, while indifference and inaction have continued to deepen our fragmentation,” he said.
According to the former Senate President, the North’s problems are intricately connected. Insecurity drives away investors and deepens poverty. Poverty, in turn, fuels crime and social unrest, while political fragmentation weakens efforts toward meaningful development.
“This is not the North that we inherited,” he declared.
Mark traced the decline to the erosion of the values of justice, mutual respect, and shared purpose that once united the region.
Recalling the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Mark urged Northern leaders to return to the spirit of inclusiveness and public service that defined the Sardauna era.
“Sardauna did not see Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Igala, Tiv, Idoma, Nupe, Okun and others. The only citizens he saw were Northerners. He invested in education, agriculture, and infrastructure — not for one group, but for the collective,” he said.
Mark called for a new political culture anchored on unity, equity, and mutual respect. He condemned the exploitation of ethnic and religious differences by politicians, particularly during elections.
“Too often, we exploit our differences to win elections, only to leave our people hopelessly divided. The weaponisation of ethnicity and religion, especially in the last election, is unacceptable,” he said.
He warned that the perception of marginalisation is a major driver of resentment in the region and called for fairness in appointments, resource allocation, and opportunities.
“When all see themselves as equal stakeholders, peace flourishes,” he said.
Mark emphasised the importance of education in promoting tolerance and unity, adding that neglecting investment in education is a recipe for continued insecurity and poverty.
“Ignorance is the biggest enemy of unity, social cohesion, and development. Our schools, churches, mosques, and media must teach and preach tolerance,” he said.
He lamented the decline of traditional community policing structures that once kept the North secure and called for their revival through grassroots mobilisation and village-based vigilance systems.
“Our security challenges are self-inflicted. We cannot continue to expect solutions from elsewhere,” he said. “We must choose dialogue over incendiary rhetoric, peace mediation over mutual destruction, and forgiveness over vengeance.”
Mark stressed that the era of lamentation must give way to decisive action, warning that the North is “bleeding profusely” and only Northerners can stop the haemorrhage.
The ADC chairman urged Northern leaders and citizens alike to reject hate speech and divisive politics and instead invest in unifying initiatives such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
“Let us commit today to shake hands across the divide and restore our bond of brotherhood,” he urged. “If we do these, I have no doubt we will rebuild this region into a powerhouse of not just peace and social cohesion but also of economic progress, human ingenuity, and compassion.”
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