Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for collective action to end what he described as “episodic governance” in Nigeria, where development plans are routinely abandoned by successive administrations.
Adebayo made the call on Tuesday during a visit to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by the forum’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu.
He urged Nigerians and regional bodies like the ACF and Northern Elders Forum to play stronger roles in promoting national unity and stability, stressing that Nigeria must move forward despite its challenges.
“Northern Nigeria is the crown jewel of the Nigerian state,” Adebayo said. “The journey to nationhood started in 1914, and there’s no excuse for pretending there’s a U-turn anywhere. Nigeria is like a train; it has no reverse gear.”
The SDP chieftain criticised the lack of continuity in governance, saying the country needs long-term national planning focused on unity, accountability, and service delivery.
“Even something as fundamental as Nigeria’s sovereignty is now up for debate,” he said. “The killings going on in the North are tragic, yet they fail to unite us in condemnation.”
Adebayo urged reforms that transcend religion, ethnicity, and regional divides, insisting that “there is only one Nigeria, and the North is a critical component.”
He also emphasised the need to prepare a new generation of patriotic leaders, pledging that his party’s politics “will leave no one behind” and will prioritise good governance.
In his remarks, ACF Chairman Bashir Dalhatu commended Adebayo’s commitment to national unity, describing him as a politician who thinks beyond regional boundaries.
“Nigeria needs people who think in a united manner,” Dalhatu said. “The ACF was established to protect the interests of the North within the context of a united Nigeria. We are first and foremost Nigerians before being Northerners.”
