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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has claimed that embracing the coalition opposition party in the 2027 general elections is the solution to freeing the northern region from the devastating grip of insurgency and banditry.
Mark made these remarks at the third plenary session of the Northern Political Consultative Group (NOCG) held in Abuja on Saturday, July 26.
He urged the indigenes of the North to reject hate speech and divisive politics, invest in unifying projects such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, hold each other accountable for their actions and inactions, and reach across divides to restore the bond of brotherhood.
The former Senate President further advised the region to opt for dialogue over inflammatory rhetoric, peace mediation over mutual annihilation, and repentance and forgiveness over vengeance wherever conflicts arise, lamenting that too much blood has been shed and it is time to make peace.
He said: “The North, as we know, is a land of rich history and mineral resources, fertile land for agriculture, diverse cultures, and immense potential. In spite of these blessings, we are confronted with deep-seated challenges of insecurity, poverty, ethnic and religious tensions, political fragmentation, and social and economic stagnation.
“These challenges did not develop overnight, nor will they disappear until we resolve to take deliberate, collective, and decisive action. Over the last decade, banditry, terrorism, insurgency, and communal clashes have turned our villages into battlegrounds, displacing millions and crippling our economy.
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“Despite its vast resources, the North remains the poorest region in the country, with alarming rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and poor infrastructure.
“Mistrust between and among ethnic groups and religious communities has been 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 enumerated the problems.
On possible solutions, the former Senate President said: “As leaders, as politicians, or just as ordinary citizens, all of us must consider it our sacred duty to be bridge-builders, not dividers, in our local communities. Too often, as politicians, we exploit ethnic and religious differences in order to win elections, and thereafter, we leave our people hopelessly divided.
“The destructive weaponisation of ethnicity and religion we saw in the last election is unacceptable. This is where the ADC will make the difference. For us, politics is about service and not manipulation,” he said.
