By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, has challenged northern political, traditional, and civic leaders to maximise President Bola Tinubu’s continued support for the region, alongside the surge in state revenues, to confront the worsening insecurity across the North decisively.
He spoke at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.
Barau, according to a statement by his Media Aide Ismail Mudashir on Sunday, explained that the North currently enjoys “a position of unique political advantage.”
This, he said, was because the President has remained responsive to every request brought before him on matters affecting the region.
According to him, Tinubu has consistently backed the North through interventions in security, agriculture, education, and emergency responses.
He said, “We have never taken any request tied to the North to him without receiving support. Whatever we take to him in terms of our needs, he will definitely deliver.”
Barau, who is also First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, urged northern governors, federal lawmakers and stakeholders to translate this political goodwill and increased fiscal inflows into coordinated, actionable security plans.
He warned that the region can no longer afford fragmented responses, even as subnational revenues are rising significantly.
The Deputy Senate President stressed that enhanced financial capacity must now be reflected in deliberate investments in security infrastructure, intelligence gathering, and strengthened local policing.
“The National Assembly is ready to support and co-fund initiatives that will strengthen security and drive development across the region,” he said.
He cited the South-West’s Amotekun Corps as an example.
Barau also noted that unified regional action had helped stabilise the zone and make it one of the safest parts of the country, a model he said the North must urgently replicate.
“Let our leaders come together, the governors, lawmakers, stakeholders. Let us sit together and work on finding solutions to our problems,” he urged.
Barau also countered the grim projections presented by Professor Jibrin Ibrahim in a trend analysis titled Arewa in the Next 25 Years, insisting that pessimistic scenarios would not unfold if northern leaders worked in unity.
“As long as we put our heads together, we shall take our region forward and help the country towards prosperity. This is doable,” he said.
He tasked the ACF with strengthening its convening power by ensuring that northern governors, federal lawmakers, and security experts meet more frequently.
He noted that several past deliberations were held without the presence of top federal legislators who could influence national budgetary outcomes.
“Invite us. We can influence funding. We can give weight to these initiatives,” he added.
Congratulating the ACF on its 25th anniversary, Barau said the Forum must now prioritise unity, coordinated security thinking and complete alignment with a President who, according to him, has shown clear commitment to the North’s progress and aspirations.
