North must heal itself — David Mark speaks at NPCG meeting in Abuja

Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Senate President, David Mark, has attributed the persistent challenges in Northern Nigeria, ranging from insecurity and poverty to economic stagnation, as self-inflicted and driven by internal disunity.

Speaking in Abuja at the 3rd Expanded Meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (NPCG, North), Mark presented a paper titled ‘Unity and Social Cohesion as a Panacea to the Challenges Facing Northern Nigeria’, where he called on Northern leaders to abandon the culture of blame and take responsibility for the region’s current predicament.

He said, “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.”

Mark described the North as a land blessed with natural and human resources but beset by deep-rooted issues such as terrorism, banditry, poverty, and political division, which have hindered meaningful development.

According to him, “Despite its vast resources, the North remains the poorest region in the country, with alarming rates of illiteracy, unemployment and poor infrastructure.”

The former Senate President emphasised that insecurity, economic hardship, and political disunity are interconnected, warning that unless deliberate and united actions are taken, the situation will only worsen.

He criticised Northern elites for prioritising sectional interests over collective growth and warned against the continued use of ethnicity and religion for political gain.

“Too often, as politicians, we exploit ethnic and religious differences in order to win elections, and thereafter, we leave our people hopelessly divided,” he said.

“The destructive weaponisation of ethnicity and religion we saw in the last election is unacceptable.”

Mark urged for a return to justice, equity, and mutual respect as guiding principles to rebuild the region.

He stressed the importance of investing in education, creating employment, reviving agriculture, and empowering the youth to combat crime and insurgency.

He also advocated for restoring community policing structures that once ensured safety in the North.

“The North is bleeding profusely, and we are the only ones who can heal it,” he said.

“Let us commit today to: reject hate speech and divisive politics, invest in unifying projects, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, hold each other accountable for our actions and inactions, and restore our bond of brotherhood.”

He added that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aims to change the political narrative in the region by promoting inclusive politics and service-driven leadership.

Mark concluded by urging Northern leaders and citizens alike to take ownership of their destiny, bridge ethnic and religious divides, and work together to create a prosperous future for the region.