By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Regional champions and some leaders of northern Nigeria have on Thursday officially launched what it termed as “Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative (ACPUDI)”, with representatives from across the 19 northern states.
The initiative is aimed at taking a bold step towards healing divisions, fostering understanding, and nurturing sustainable development in their beloved region of the North.
Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Alh. Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, in a speech, said the initiative is ready to offer their support to any political office seeker that would champion the implementation of its blueprint for the overall benefit of their people.
“We stand ready to offer our support to any political office seeker whom we are convinced will champion the implementation of this blueprint for the overall benefit of our people.
“This blueprint represents our vision for sustainable transformation, and we shall engage with leaders across all political divides who demonstrate genuine commitment to its realization.
In the speech titled “Peace is possible, unity is achievable and development is within our reach”, the chairman however said the initiative does not intend to transform into a political party, nor aligned itselves with any political party, adding that it mission transcends partisan politics.
“Let me be clear from the outset; we are not a political movement. We do not ntend to transform into a political party, nor do we align ourselves with any political party. Our mission transcends partisan politics.
“We are ready to work with anyone, regardless of political affiliation, who shares our commitment to transforming Arewa and Nigeria for the better.
“We are ready to collaborate with any organization that has similar objectives as ours. We are not out to fight anybody, but rather to build bridges and foster constructive engagement.
“When called upon, we shall offer advice in a constructive manner, always guided by our principles of peace, unity and development.
While our movement remains non-partisan in character, we recognize that our members are free to pursue their individual political aspirations beyond the confines of this initiative.
“Indeed, we are prepared to support those among them whom we believe will champion the objectives of our movement should they ascend to political office”, he stated.
The chairman added that”However, within the sacred space of this movement, our unwavering 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”.
“We have prepared a comprehensive blueprint for the advancement of the North and Nigeria, a roadmap born from careful study and deep reflection on our region’s potential”, he stressed.
His words “Arewa is more than a geographical expression. It is a symbol of our identity, our history, and our collective destiny. And it is in this spirit that we come together, not as tribal groups, not as political or religious factions, but as brothers and sisters bound by the shared vision of a peaceful, united and prosperous future.
“The challenges that confront us as a people are complex and deep rooted. We have witnessed communal conflicts, rising insecurity, youth restiveness, economic marginalization, and sadly, gradual erosion of the values that once held us together.
We choose however, to be remembered by our response to them.
“The Arewa Cohesion Initiative is our collective response. This initiative was birthed from a simple but powerful idea; that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, equity and dialogue.
“That unity does not mean uniformity, but the strength that comes from embracing our diversity. And that true development must be people-centered, inclusive and sustainable”, he stated.
According to him, the mission in the Initiative can be summarized as thus: To promote peaceful coexistence among diverse communities in the North, to create platforms for dialogue, reconciliation and conflict resolution and to engage our youth – our most precious resource in meaningful and productive ventures.
Other missions, according to the chairman, are to work collaboratively with governments, traditional institutes, civil society, faith-based institutions and international partners towards a safer, stronger and more inclusive North, to promote good governance and progressive leadership recruitment process for the North.
He also said the official launching of initiative Thursday stands as a call to action, adding “Let it mark the dawn of a new era in the North, an era of dialogue over division, progress over stagnation and unity over discord”.
“Let the world see a new narrative emerging from our region, one that tells of courage, resilience, and transformation. One that says: Yes, peace is possible. Yes, unity is achievable. And yes, development is within our reach”, he emphasized.
Earlier in a remarks, the Director General of the initiative Dr Abdullahi Idris said the initiative was not created in isolation but as a result of extensive reflection, dialogue and engagement across communities and institutions.
He said the region has been tested by persistent insecurity, instability, economic hardship and deepening social fragmentation. “We’ve seen how circle of violence, deepening poverty and disillusionment, especially amongst young people, having understand trust, weakening institutions”, he stated.
Idris further stated that the initiative does not seek to duplicate existing efforts, but to complement and connect. “We are not under any illusion. The task ahead is not simply and progress will not be immediate..but the stakes are too high and the cost of inaction too great, for us to remain idle”, he noted.
Unveilling the initiative, the chairman of the occasion General Temlong (rtd) said “What we witness today is not merely the birth of another organization, but the emergence of a movement rooted in hope, guided by wisdom, and driven by an unwavering commitment to the prosperity of our people.
The Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative represents the collective voice of a region that refuses to be defined by its challenges, but rather by its capacity to overcome them.
“As I prepare to unveil this Initiative, I am reminded that symbols have power. They carry within them the dreams of a people, the aspirations of a generation, and the promise of a better tomorrow.
“Today, we unveil more than a logo or an emblem; we unveil a covenant with our future. This Initiative embodies the timeless values that have always defined us as a people – our spirit of brotherhood, our commitment to justice, and our belief in the power of unity.
“It represents our collective determination to transform challenges into opportunities, divisions into bridges, and discord into harmony.
“To the leadership and membership of this Initiative, you carry with you the hopes of millions. May this unveiling mark the beginning of a journey that will be remembered as the turning point in our region’s quest for lasting peace and sustainable development”, he stated. END
