Former Senate President and interim chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has delivered a scathing critique of Northern Nigeria’s leadership, declaring that the region’s deep-rooted challenges are “self-inflicted.”
Speaking at the 3rd Expanded Meeting of the Northern National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) in Abuja, Mark said insecurity, poverty, political division, and economic stagnation were consequences of poor leadership and internal disunity.
“Let’s stop the blame game,” he told Northern leaders. “We are the architects of our problems.”
The former Senate President lamented that despite the North’s rich resources and heritage, it remains Nigeria’s poorest region, crippled by illiteracy, unemployment, and violent conflict.
He accused political elites of exploiting ethnic and religious divides for personal gain and warned that continued fragmentation would only worsen the crisis.
“Banditry, terrorism, and communal clashes have displaced millions and wrecked our economy. This is not the North we inherited,” he said.
While calling for a return to justice, equity, and unity, Mark urged leaders to reject divisive politics, invest in education, and restore traditional systems of community policing.
“The North is bleeding,” he concluded. “Only we can stop it.”
