By Tgnews Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday issued a stark warning to northern leaders, urging them to close ranks against “mischief makers” exploiting ethnic and religious fault lines to fracture the country, as he rallied the influential Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Receiving an ACF delegation led by Board of Trustees Chairman Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu at the Presidential Villa, Shettima stressed that unity must be the North’s unbreakable creed amid mounting economic hardships and security threats.
“We must continue to resist all attempts to divide us or stir mischief among us. Our future depends on unity, and unity must remain our creed,” he declared.
The Vice President distinguished between legitimate grievances demanding fairness and inclusion, and opportunistic agitations fueled by greed. He assured the elders that the administration is laser-focused on addressing genuine concerns while sidelining those profiting from chaos.
“Every group, every faith, and every voice has a place in our national conversation. We will never accommodate marginalisation,” Shettima said, outlining policies aimed at broadening opportunities through education, enterprise, and inclusive growth. “This government is yours. Your interests shall always find representation here, for I am one of you.”
Painting a sobering picture of the North’s challenges—insecurity, mistrust, and economic decline—Shettima vowed to break the cycle of violence and deprivation.
“We owe our people the duty of ending the cycle of killings and destruction and ensuring justice for victims,” he insisted.
On the economic front, he highlighted transformative investments in agriculture, shifting from subsistence farming to commercial scale. Initiatives include agro-processing hubs, microfinance for smallholder farmers and MSMEs, and new industrial zones in states like Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto.
Security gains were also touted, with coordinated military operations neutralizing key bandit leaders and restoring calm to hard-hit communities.
The ACF delegation, which included heavyweights such as former Inspector-General of Police M.D. Abubakar (rtd), ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, and Lt. Gen. Abdurahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), came bearing solidarity and an invitation.
Dalhatu praised the administration’s “bold reforms” and Shettima’s steadfast leadership, formally inviting the Vice President to the forum’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
He revealed plans for an endowment fund to drive socio-economic progress across the North and pledged broader engagements with other regional groups to strengthen national cohesion.
ACF National Executive Committee Chairman Mamman Mike Osuman echoed the sentiment, saying the milestone event would spotlight the region’s untapped potential and recommit to a united Nigeria.
Other attendees included Sen. Ibrahim Ida, Murtala Aliyu, Amb. Ibrahim Mai-Sule, and Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda.
As political temperatures rise ahead of future elections, Shettima’s appeal underscores a deliberate push to forge a unified northern front in support of the Tinubu government, framing national stability as inseparable from regional solidarity.
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