…Says “Only ADC can tackle region’s challenges
Former Senate President and Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has declared that the deep-rooted poverty, insecurity, and socio-economic stagnation afflicting Northern Nigeria are self-inflicted.
He called for urgent introspection, unity, and a new political direction, positioning the ADC as the only viable platform to rescue the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the 3rd Expanded Meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North), held Saturday at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, Mark delivered a keynote paper, titled: “Unity and Social Cohesion as a Panacea to the Challenges Facing Northern Nigeria”. The event also served as a rallying point for the ADC-led opposition coalition determined to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Mark painted a grim picture of the North’s current state: widespread insecurity from banditry and terrorism, rampant poverty, ethnic and religious tensions, and decaying infrastructure. He lamented that despite the region’s abundant natural and human resources, it remains the poorest in the country with alarming rates of illiteracy and unemployment.
“These challenges didn’t fall from the sky,” Mark asserted. “We are the architects of our own misfortune. Until we acknowledge this and stop blaming others, there will be no genuine progress.”
Citing the North’s rich history of unity, shared culture, and grassroots development under the old Native Authority system, Mark urged leaders to return to those principles of justice, equity, and community-led security. He decried how politicians have weaponized ethnicity and religion to win elections, only to abandon the people in deeper division.
“Too much blood has been shed in our land. It’s time to make peace, The North is bleeding, and only we can heal it”, he stated.
He proposed a three-pronged approach: reinvesting in inclusive education to combat ignorance, empowering youth through agriculture and employment, and reviving traditional security models that once kept communities safe.
Mark called for fairness in governance, noting that perceived marginalisation fuels resentment and undermines social cohesion. “Peace flourishes when all see themselves as equal stakeholders”, he stressed.
The event drew notable northern political figures including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, underscoring the growing momentum behind the ADC’s coalition project.
Positioning the ADC as a people-driven alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (AOC), Mark declared, “This is where the ADC will make the difference. For us, politics is about service, not manipulation”.
Drawing inspiration from iconic northern leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello and Malam Aminu Kano, Mark urged the North to reclaim its legacy of leadership, unity, and progress.
He concluded with a rallying cry: “Let us commit today to reject hate speech and divisive politics, invest in education and infrastructure, and rebuild the North not with rhetoric, but with action”.
