By MARYAM AHMADU-SUKA

Stakeholders at the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity have called for greater accountability, good governance and collective action to address the lingering security challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.

The calls were made on Wednesday in Kaduna during a one-day Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity organised by the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative.

Muhammad Ali, a Special Guest at the summit, described the gathering as timely, saying insecurity had continued to devastate communities across the North, with grave consequences for lives, livelihoods and development.

He said terrorism, banditry and violent attacks had displaced thousands of residents, disrupted farming activities, weakened the economy and denied many children access to education.

Ali expressed concern over what he described as inadequate responses to the security crisis, urging political leaders at all levels to prioritise the protection of lives and property.

He stressed that security remained the primary constitutional responsibility of government and called on leaders to demonstrate greater commitment to restoring peace in the region.

According to him, Northern Nigerians should use democratic means to demand accountability from elected officials and ensure that future electoral choices are guided by competence and performance.

“The North must organise, demand accountability and vote for leaders committed to peace, security and development.

“The region cannot continue to endure bloodshed and displacement while expecting different outcomes without political accountability,” he said.

Ali added that the 2027 general elections should provide an opportunity for citizens to make informed choices capable of strengthening governance and improving security.

Also speaking, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Adewole Adebayo, said Northern Nigeria possessed enormous human and economic potential capable of transforming not only Nigeria but the wider West African sub-region.

Adebayo said the region’s growing population should be viewed as an asset rather than a burden, provided governments invested in education, skills acquisition and economic opportunities.

He maintained that effective leadership and good governance remained the most practical solutions to the country’s security and developmental challenges.

According to him, democracy empowers citizens to elect leaders who understand their needs and should therefore be used as a tool for positive change.

“We are not as powerless as we think. Leaders emerge through the choices of the people, and citizens must evaluate them based on performance,” he said.

Adebayo also advocated sustained investment in agriculture and productive enterprises to create jobs and reduce poverty, noting that economic empowerment remained critical to tackling insecurity.

He identified corruption as a major obstacle to national development and urged governments to strengthen transparency and accountability in public service.

On education, he recommended an integrated system combining Western and Islamic education to equip young people with moral values and practical knowledge.

Adebayo urged Nigerians not to lose hope, expressing confidence that the country’s challenges could be overcome through responsible leadership, active citizen participation and adherence to democratic principles.

He called on citizens to vote according to their conscience and support leaders with the capacity to deliver peace, security and sustainable development. (NAN)