Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has emphasized the urgent need for northern Nigeria to unite under a powerful political platform to address the region’s ongoing security and developmental challenges.
Appearing on Channels Television Monday night, Lawal said the North must gain control over the “instruments of power and coercion”notably the military if it hopes to effectively combat insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity.
“If you don’t control the military, there’s no way you can coerce them into doing the right thing with the insurgency and the bandits,” Lawal asserted. “It is important that we get the instruments of power as northerners into the hands of somebody who understands the issues facing us and who will confront them directly.”
Lawal revealed that a group of prominent northern politicians outside of government, operating under the banner of the Nigerian People’s Consultative Political Forum (North), has been strategizing to unify the region politically. According to him, the group has resolved to support only candidates—whether northerner or southerner—who genuinely understand and are committed to solving northern Nigeria’s challenges.
To achieve this, Lawal said the coalition had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the political vehicle of choice. He noted that the broader national conversation also includes key political figures like Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar, among others.
“At the national level, some of the most significant names are Amaechi, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar. I’m sure there are others who haven’t declared their positions yet,” he said.
When asked about his own political aspirations, Lawal dismissed the idea with his usual candor.
“Nobody will vote for me. My guy said, ‘Even my wife will not vote for me.’ You will not bend, you will not negotiate. To me, black is black, white is white. There’s no gray color to me,” he quipped.
