Northern leaders must confront root causes of terrorism – APC Chieftain

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and die-hard supporter of President Bola Tinubu, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje has issued a strongly worded statement to Northern Nigerian leaders and the Federal Government, urging them to confront the underlying causes of terrorism and insecurity plaguing the region.

In a statement titled “A Frank Conversation With Northern Leaders and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Alawuje warned that Northern Nigeria’s persistent crisis is the result of decades of leadership failure, neglect of the poor, and political hypocrisy.

According to him, despite the North’s vast population, cultural wealth, and long history of political influence, the region remains underdeveloped because many of its leaders “lack the fear of God and a true sense of responsibility.”

“We have been deceived for too long,” he said. “We possess abundant cultural heritage, diversity, and leadership potential, yet we continue to suffer because we lack patriotic and accountable leaders.”

Alawuje argued that terrorism in the North did not arise in isolation but grew from years of abandoning the children of the poor, many of whom were used as political tools but deprived of education, skills, or social support.

Today, he said, these same youths have become instruments of violence, involved in kidnapping, banditry, and widespread terror.

“You ignored the children of the poor… so they could be available for political thuggery,” he said, directing his criticism at political elites. “Today, these untrained youth are the ones terrorizing your communities and threatening your own children’s future.”

He challenged leaders to reflect deeply on the origins of the current crisis, and asked, “Who are these people? Who sponsors them? What did we do wrong? And what exactly do they want?”

He stressed that terrorism should never be normalized and must be addressed with a united national front. He urged the public and political class to stop viewing insecurity as a regional issue.

“This is not just a Northern problem or a Southern problem, this is a Nigerian problem,” he stated.

Alawuje accused some leaders of prioritizing political battles and personal interests over national security, warning that such attitudes only worsen the crisis.

Referencing past administrations, from former President Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari and now President Bola Tinubu, Alawuje emphasized that the country’s deepest issues lie beyond the actions of any single leader.

“Jonathan came and left. Buhari came and left. Today you shout at President Tinubu, but he too will leave after eight years. The truth is that our greatest challenges remain within us,” he said.

He urged elites to invest genuinely in their communities, uplift neglected youth, and seek moral accountability before God, calling on Nigerians to work together to restore peace and stability in the country.