By AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna –
Former governor of Sokota State, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, has unveiled a broad-based northern initiative focused on tackling insecurity, rebuilding social cohesion, and empowering youth, declaring that “peace is possible, unity is achievable and development is within our reach.”
He made it known in Kaduna during the official launching of the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative, held in Arewa house, kaduna.
According to the former governor, the new platform is a non-political movement dedicated to restoring the values, dignity, and collective potential of the North through dialogue, justice, and inclusive development.
Bafarawa is of the opinion, that the North can no longer afford to ignore rising communal conflicts, deepening poverty, youth unemployment and insecurity, which have “undermined trust and weakened institutions.” According to him, the Arewa region must now “choose to be remembered by our response to these challenges.”
“This initiative is our collective response,” he said. “It was birthed from the belief that peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, equity and dialogue… We are not out to fight anybody but to build bridges and foster constructive engagement.”
The former governor stressed that although members of the initiative are free to pursue personal political ambitions, the organisation remains firmly non-partisan and will not transform into a political party. He noted that the movement will collaborate with any leader or organisation, regardless of political affiliation that is committed to peace, progress and development in Arewa.
“Our focus shall be the pursuit of the collective interests of the North and its people, rising above political divisions that have for too long hindered our progress,” Bafarawa added.
Also speaking at the unveiling, the Director-General of the Initiative, Dr. Abdullahi Idris, described the effort as a response to “decades of instability, economic hardship, and social fragmentation” that have plagued northern Nigeria. He said the future of Nigeria is inextricably linked to the peace and prosperity of the North.
“The Arewa Cohesion Initiative is a timely and strategic effort that seeks to foster dialogue where there is silence, rebuild trust where it has been eroded, and create opportunities where there have been too few,” Idris stated.
He stressed the importance of moving from rhetoric to action, noting that the initiative is built on three pillars: peacebuilding, northern unity, and sustainable development. He added that progress will require leadership, collective ownership, and a long-term commitment to transformation.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, retired Gen. Jon Temlong, said the launch marks “not the birth of another organisation but the emergence of a movement rooted in hope” and driven by the “collective voice of a region that refuses to be defined by its challenges.”
The event, held at Arewa House in Kaduna, was attended by a cross-section of political figures, traditional leaders, civil society groups, youth organisations and development stakeholders from across the region.
The launch of the initiative comes at a time of heightened concern over insecurity in the North-West and North-Central zones, including mass abductions, rural banditry, and communal clashes, which have left communities displaced and economies disrupted.
