By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

A bold new movement aimed at redefining the future of Northern Nigeria was formally unveiled Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Kaduna, with former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, leading the charge for unity, peace and people-focused development.

The Initiative, Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACPUDI), made its debut at Arewa House amid calls for a shift from rhetoric to action in tackling the deep-seated challenges facing the region.

Bafarawa, who serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, described the birth of ACPUDI as a historic moment and a ?collective moral duty? to rescue the North from cycles of conflict, economic decay and political division.

?This is not about politics or power; it is about purpose. It is about reclaiming our values and creating a future our children can be proud of,? Bafarawa stated.

He warned that the North is at a crossroads, weighed down by insecurity, poverty, youth disillusionment and identity fragmentation. According to him, the region must rally around a non-partisan, grassroots-driven blueprint if it hopes to reverse the downward trend.

?We are not a political party and we do not intend to become one. But we are a people?s movement ? ready to work with anyone, from any party or background, who believes in peace, inclusion, and regional progress,? he added.

Bafarawa stressed that unity does not imply sameness, but rather the strength of embracing diversity. ?Arewa is not just land; it is a legacy, a living history of shared struggle and hope. We must protect it by rethinking our approach to governance, youth engagement and inter-communal relations,? he said.

The Director-General of the movement, Dr. Abdullahi Idris, echoed Bafarawa?s sentiments, describing ACPUDI as a response to the region?s declining social and economic cohesion. He noted that the North?s woes worsening insecurity, poverty and declining trust in institutionsbhave national consequences.

?If Arewa fails, Nigeria shakes. If Arewa finds peace, Nigeria stands strong,? Idris declared. He said ACPUDI was anchored on three pillars: peacebuilding, Arewa unity and sustainable development.

He added that the initiative aims to ?create platforms where silenced voices can speak, where fractured communities can heal, and where marginalised youths can find hope.?

In his keynote address, retired General John Temlong, who chaired the event, described ACPUDI as a timely intervention that reflects the resilient spirit of the region.

?What we are witnessing is a call to conscience ? a determination to turn generational pain into purposeful progress,? he said, urging the group?s leadership to remain focused and apolitical.

Temlong said the road ahead would not be easy but that the movement must persevere. ?Carry with you the aspirations of millions. Let today mark not just a beginning, but a turning point for the North.?

The event attracted prominent traditional rulers, academics, civil society leaders, and youth groups from across the 19 Northern states, signaling broad support for the movement?s ideals.

ACPUDI?s launch adds to growing voices calling for a regionally coordinated response to insecurity, poor governance and youth unrest in Northern Nigeria.

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