Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Northern leaders to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing the need for unity and national cohesion as the administration pursues policies aimed at stabilising the economy and strengthening security nationwide.
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima urged the region’s foremost socio-cultural body to stand in solidarity with ongoing reforms and reject attempts by “mischief makers” to stoke division.
According to him, the moment demands collective leadership and clarity of purpose. “There is no better time than now for the leaders of the North to stand together as one,” he said, emphasising that the government is addressing long-standing socio-economic challenges.
The Vice President cautioned against forces seeking to exploit insecurity and hardship for political gain. He noted that while some grievances across the country were legitimate and deserving of attention, others were fuelled by personal ambition and greed. “We must distinguish genuine demands for fairness from attempts to profit from chaos,” he said.
Shettima reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to equitable governance, stressing that every region, religion, and community has a voice in national affairs under President Tinubu. “We will never accommodate the marginalisation of any group. Our policies are designed to lift every community through opportunity, education, and enterprise,” he added.
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Outlining government initiatives for the North, he highlighted reforms in education, expansion of vocational centres, agricultural industrialisation, and targeted security operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring peace. He also referenced plans to boost industrial activity in states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto through specialised economic zones.
Earlier, ACF Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, praised the administration’s efforts and commended Shettima’s role in driving reforms, stating that the region remains committed to supporting the government. The delegation also formally invited the Vice President to the ACF’s 25th anniversary celebration and outlined plans to launch an endowment fund to foster economic growth in the North.
ACF leaders pledged continued support for national unity and development, affirming their allegiance to the administration’s vision for a secure and prosperous Nigeria.