Interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, declared today that the North is “bleeding” and asserted that his party is the sole platform capable of tackling the region’s myriad challenges, if voted into power.
Speaking at the 3rd expanded meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North) at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Mark, a former Senate President, delivered a keynote address on the theme, “Unity, and social cohesion as panacea to the challenges facing Northern Nigeria.” He highlighted the North’s deep-seated issues, including insecurity, poverty, ethnic and religious tensions, political fragmentation, and socio-economic stagnation.
“These challenges did not develop overnight, nor will they disappear until we resolve to take deliberate, collective and decisive action,” Mark stated. “We must first admit that we are the architects of our problems; we must stop the blame game if we truly and genuinely want to find a lasting solution.”
He lamented that division has hindered progress, while indifference and inaction have deepened existing divides. “If we are to overcome our present travails, we must return to the principles of justice, equity, mutual respect, and shared purpose that once made Northern Nigeria a beacon of hope, peace, unity, and development.”
Mark stressed that “the time for lamentation is over. The North is bleeding profusely, and we are the only ones who can heal it.” He urged a collective commitment to reject hate speech and divisive politics, invest in unifying projects like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, and hold each other accountable. “Shake hands across the divide and restore our bond of brotherhood,” he implored.
He expressed confidence that such actions would “rebuild this region into a powerhouse of not just peace and social cohesion but also of economic progress, human ingenuity, and compassion.”
Mark specifically deplored that over the last decade, banditry, terrorism, insurgency, and communal clashes have transformed Northern villages into battlegrounds, displacing millions and crippling the region’s economy. He further decried that despite its vast resources, the North remains the poorest region in the country, plagued by alarming rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and poor infrastructure.
