The Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark has described the coalition party as the vehicle to achieve northern unity, progress and development.
Mark stated this on Saturday in his opening remarks at the ongoing third expanded meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North) in Abuja.
Sequel to the unveiling of ADC as political party platform for some notable opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, the 3rd expanded meeting of NPCG (North) was convened to facilitate consultations towards achieving the objective of uniting the people in the North.
LEADERSHIP reports that NPCG (North), chaired by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at its second expanded meeting called for the urgent unveiling of the political platform on which the interest of region will be pursued.
Speaking before the meeting went into closed doors, the former Senate President said; “The last time we met here, the popular demand was, ‘what is the vehicle to achieve the northern agenda?’ I tell you today that the vehicle to achieve northern unity, progress and development is ADC.”
According to Senator Mark, the north was bleeding profusely, stressing they were the only ones who can heal the bleeding, hence the need to reject hate speech and divisive politics, invest in unifying projects such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.
He also charged the people of the region to hold each other accountable for their actions and inactions; shake hands across the divide and restore the bond of brotherhood.
Mark noted that the north is a land of rich history and mineral resources, fertile land for agriculture, diverse cultures, and immense potential but in spite of these blessings, he lamented that the region is confronted with deep-seated challenges of insecurity, poverty, ethnic and religious tensions, political fragmentation, social and economic stagnation.
“Over the last decade, banditry, terrorism, insurgency and communal clashes have turned our villages into battlegrounds, displacing millions and crippling our economy. Despite its vast resources, the North remains the poorest region in the country, with alarming rates of illiteracy, unemployment and poor infrastructure.”
He also highlighted mistrust between and among ethnic groups and religious communities exploited by selfish and desperate interests, leading to violent conflicts. “Instead of uniting for common goals, our elites often prioritise personal and sectional interests over collective progress.
“The challenges facing Northern Nigeria are intricately interconnected. Insecurity scares away investors which, in turn, deepens poverty. Poverty fuels desperation and crime. Ethnic divisions weaken our collective resolve to demand good governance. Political fragmentation ensures that no meaningful development takes root in our region. This is not the North that we inherited.”
He however assured that there is a path that could lead to a better future for Northern Nigeria “and this path begins with our collective decision to abandon division and embrace unity.
“We must tone down our inflammable statements and return to that golden era when we used to have genuine and deep respect for each other. After all, not long ago we treated each other, first and foremost, as brothers and sisters; when the appellation “Northerner” captured our collective essence before our ethnic, sectional and religious affiliations.”
Mark charged the people to reclaim the region’s greatness, by rethinking and reconsidering their individual utterances and actions.
“The destructive weaponisation of ethnicity and religion we saw in the last election is unacceptable. This is where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will make the difference. For us, politics is about service and not manipulation,” he said.
He stressed that the security challenges in the region are self-inflicted, maintaining that, “We cannot continue to expect solutions from elsewhere. Northern Nigeria used to be the safest part of Nigeria. There were no armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism or fraudsters, but today the story in the North is different.”
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