Opposition coalition leaders and Northern political leaders deliberated on the state of the country, especially Northern Nigeria.
The dialogue under the auspices of National Political Consultative Group (North) (NPCG) drew participation from stakeholders from the 19 states of the country.
The meeting which was held in Abuja signals a harmonising of interests as doubts linger over which party the coalition would adopt. The two main contenders are the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The meeting, which was non partisan with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Mr Datti Baba Ahmed, Vice Presidential Candidate to Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Buhari’s Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and many other key Northern political elites in attendance.
In solidarity with the Northern Group, the Labour Party 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, former Rivers Governor Chief Rotimi Ameachi, PDP BoT Chair, Chief Adolphus Wabara and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who joined virtually, also attended the event.
Atiku blamed the rising insecurity in the country, especially in the North, to a clear lack of decisive political leadership.
He recalled how the Atiku-Obasanjo administration nipped in the bud, the emergence of Boko Haram in Yobe.
He also recounted how the administration handled the grossly under-policed country by a massive police recruitment policy. Atiku is of the opinion that the current situation in Nigeria is a function of bad governance.
Obi and Ameachi decried the poverty and insecurity in the North.
Obi said the region must invest in education because it’s the easiest way to tackle poverty.
Abubakar Malami, earlier in his keynote address, underscored how bad policies, including the unplanned removal of fuel subsidy and bad management of borders, are adversely impacting the economy of northern Nigeria.
“Just a few days ago, the ruling party held its National Summit and instead of addressing the serious issues of insecurity, economic hardship and rising poverty, it chose to focus on politics, endorsing President Bola Tinubu as sole candidate for the 2027 election that is still two years away.”
He said it is shocking that the government abandoned governance in the face of pressing economic and security challenges in the country.
Malami said reckless decisions by the Tinubu administration have crippled the Agric sector in the North, which is the backbone of the region.
In the technical session of the meeting, stakeholders strongly supported that the North has to fully back the ongoing coalition of opposition parties.
Former SGF Babachir Lawal leads a team of other prominent Northern leaders at the organising front.
The closed door meeting lasted for more than four hours.
