President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to eliminate terrorist and bandit groups tormenting the northern part of the country, declaring that no region of the country will be left to bleed while his government stands by.
He said the layers and sophistication of the security crisis inherited were daunting, but his resolve to end the menace remains firm and urgent.
Tinubu also pledged to reverse the long-running economic decline of the North, expressing optimism that the region is on the verge of a major turnaround with the anticipated rollout of crude oil from the Kolmani fields and other emerging oil prospects across the region.
Speaking at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna, the President who was represented by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas said the North is facing one of the gravest tests in its history, a corrosion of security, a collapse of communal ethics and a distortion of the moral compass that once held its communities together.
He warned that Nigeria cannot prosper when a key part of its national body is “paralysed,” stressing that the North’s stability is essential to the peace and progress of the entire federation.
Tinubu praised the ACF for serving as the conscience of the region for 25 years, describing the forum as a reservoir of patriots, thinkers, moral leaders and negotiators who have defended the dignity and interests of millions across the North.
He noted that the founding fathers of the ACF anticipated moments of national strain and built an institution strong enough to articulate the hopes of the region. According to him, the North’s triumph will depend on the strength of its institutions rather than on strong individuals.
The President said he attended the anniversary “not as a son of the region, but as a son of the Nigerian federation,” bound by duty and conscience to every part of the country. He urged leaders to embrace selflessness and moral responsibility, warning that privilege comes with accountability.
Tinubu said the North has not failed, but could fail if leaders retreat from their obligation to be their brothers’ keepers. He noted that failure begins the day leaders sleep comfortably while millions sleep hungry or travel in fear across short distances.
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