Atiku Calls on Northern Leaders to Foster Unity Across Ethnic and Religious Lines

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to return to its founding mission of uniting the North and promoting a development-focused agenda inspired by the vision of the late Ahmadu Bello.

Atiku made the appeal on Friday in Kaduna during the 25th anniversary celebration of the ACF.

He emphasized that the forum was established not only to consolidate regional unity but also to advance the North’s longstanding priorities in education, agriculture, and industrial growth, stressing that the region must confront its developmental stagnation with renewed urgency.

“The major issue with our unity is our failure to manage our diversity. The North is not the most diverse part of the world, yet our past leadership has always recognized and respected this diversity. We should focus on making our diversity a driver for development,” Atiku said.

He added, “We must muster both the courage and political will to overcome the obstacles to our unity. If there is any time for the North to unite, it is now. I hope we can resist those attempting to divide us along ethnic or religious lines, rise above these differences, and come together as the one people we have always been.”