President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified the persistent security challenges in Northern Nigeria as his most troubling concern, emphasizing that the situation poses a significant threat to the nation's advancement and stability.
Address at Arewa Consultative Forum Anniversary
The President made these revelations during the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Arewa Consultative Forum held in Kaduna state on Wednesday, November 22. Represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, President Tinubu delivered a powerful speech titled 'A Generation Summoned by a Crisis' that captured the gravity of the security situation.
"Nothing troubles me more gravely than the security crisis bedevilling Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria," the President declared. He elaborated that "affliction in any part of the country is a setback for every part" and stressed that "we cannot prosper when one limb of the national body is paralysed."
Inherited Challenges and Urgent Response
President Tinubu acknowledged that his administration inherited complex, multilayered security problems that have plagued the nation for years. However, he assured Nigerians that his government is approaching these challenges with renewed determination and urgency.
"The layers and sophistication of the security challenges we inherited are daunting," the President admitted, but quickly added that "what should inspire confidence is the urgency with which my administration is pursuing solutions."
The President emphasized that there has never been a more critical time for honest and courageous leadership in Northern Nigeria. He recognized that there have been "missteps" and "moments of drift" in addressing the region's challenges, but insisted that the North cannot be considered a failure unless leaders abandon their responsibility to protect their communities.
Call for Collective Responsibility and Hope
In his heartfelt address, President Tinubu outlined when true failure occurs: "We fail the day we sleep comfortably while millions sleep with empty bellies, the day fear becomes a permanent companion for travellers moving from one village to another."
Despite the gravity of the situation, the President urged Nigerians not to lose hope. He pointed to the ethnic and religious diversity present at the ACF gathering as evidence of the collective determination to overcome polarization and resist divisive agendas.
"The dysfunction inherited over decades fractured bonds and strained unity," President Tinubu noted. "Yet the ethnic and religious diversity gathered here today is a declaration of the collective resolve to overcome polarisation and resist any agenda designed to divide."
The President's address at the silver jubilee celebration of the prominent Northern socio-cultural organization underscores the administration's commitment to finding lasting solutions to the security challenges that have hampered development and threatened livelihoods across Northern Nigeria.
