Adebayo Seeks Arewa Elders’ Backing to Rebuild National Unity Before 2027 Elections
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called on the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to mobilise the North towards a renewed sense of national purpose ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adebayo made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the ACF Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, where he met with the forum’s leadership alongside a delegation of SDP loyalists.
He said his engagement was driven not by political ambition but by a patriotic duty to encourage dialogue and reflection “before politics takes over.”
He urged northern elders to use their influence to foster unity, stressing that the country was in dire need of collective introspection.
“After leaving office, a seemingly wise person just becomes immediately confused. If you look at those who are in office now, even though I ran against them and thought we would do better, they are abysmal. Their energy is being used for things that are not the real problems of the country,” he said.
The former SDP flag bearer lamented that Nigeria had abandoned its tradition of long-term planning in favour of “episodic governance,” leaving key national projects such as the Ajaokuta Steel Plant and major dams unfinished.
He identified three key areas of concern — the North’s role in shaping Nigeria’s destiny, the collapse of developmental planning, and the need to trust a new generation of young patriots.
“If we understand the North well in politics, and if the North understands us, we would have solved the majority of Nigeria’s problems,” Adebayo noted, decrying the rise of violence and religious divisions in the region.
He urged the ACF to use its “soft power” to influence political discourse, adding that inclusiveness and accountability, rather than ethnicity or religion, should define Nigeria’s future.
“We will give a government that is incorruptible, one that provides services. Ministers will be accountable. Our alliance is to Nigeria first,” he said.
Responding, ACF Board of Trustees Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu, commended Adebayo for his patriotism and clarity of thought, saying his message aligned with the forum’s vision for unity and progress.
“Your desire for nation-building is well known. I am amazed at how many points you’ve mentioned that I share completely. Nigeria needs people who think in a united manner,” Dalhatu stated.
He affirmed that while the ACF remains non-partisan, it welcomes engagement with political leaders who share its ideals of national cohesion and balanced development.
“No group alone can solve Nigeria’s problems. We need to cooperate with those who can assist the country. Our doors are open, transparent, and want to consolidate brotherhood across Nigeria,” he said.
The meeting followed recent remarks by Dalhatu, who in July expressed concern over what he described as the marginalisation of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, despite the region’s significant electoral support in 2023.
He had warned then that key sectors such as security, agriculture, and education were being neglected, calling on the President to take “strong, audacious and sustained” action to address the North’s growing frustration.
