League of Northern Democrats: A New Movement to Address Northern Nigeria’s Challenges

By Muhammad Sani Muazu

The League of Northern Democrats has emerged as a political and socio-economic movement aimed at addressing the growing challenges facing northern Nigeria. The group is made up of concerned elites from various sectors, including technocrats, political stalwarts, retired military officers, and captains of industry. According to Dr. Ladan Salihu, former Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation, the League was formed to tackle the “scandalous” state of affairs in the region, ranging from economic backwardness to political disunity and insecurity.

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Salihu stated that northern Nigeria is currently at the epicenter of numerous problems, including economic retrogression, social unrest, and political instability. “The north is the epicenter of backwardness and insecurity,” he said. He further emphasized that the region has become a hotbed of poverty, conflict, and underdevelopment. Despite these challenges, Dr. Salihu lamented that the region’s leadership has failed to address these issues with the urgency they demand.

According to Dr. Salihu, the League’s mission is to unite the region’s diverse political actors and mobilize them toward addressing the core problems affecting the north. “It appears that there is no quality leadership to champion the cause of the north and to educate, enlighten, and bring these issues up for general discussion,” he explained.

The League’s leadership includes a cross-section of notable figures, including Dr. Umar Ardo, a well-known political figure who played a key role in shaping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. The League is also supported by high-ranking former military officers and respected technocrats.

The group has already begun engaging with key northern leaders, including General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and General Yakubu Gowon, to foster unity and strategize on addressing the region’s many challenges. Interestingly, the League has also reached out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, acknowledging his influence in Nigeria’s political landscape, despite not being from the north.

Dr. Salihu noted that existing northern organizations like the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum have not effectively addressed the critical issues facing the region. “These organizations have either fallen short of our expectations or have not put their hands on the plough to address the sensitive issues that pertain to the north,” he said. He emphasized that the League would be vocal and relentless in holding northern leaders accountable and driving meaningful political and economic reforms.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Dr. Salihu said the League of Northern Democrats will focus on political recruitment, ensuring that the best candidates—those who prioritize the region’s collective good—are brought to the fore. The movement is committed to cutting across party lines and recruiting technocrats and economic leaders who can drive development in northern Nigeria. “We are a broad-based organization that cuts across party lines. Our focus is on political recruitment, ensuring the best candidates lead the north and driving economic progress,” he stated.

The League is also preparing for a Northern Political Summit, scheduled to take place in Kaduna on November 12th and 13th, 2024. The summit aims to bring together various stakeholders from across the region to discuss issues of unity, insecurity, and economic recovery.

Dr. Salihu expressed confidence in the League’s growing influence, noting that more people are joining the movement daily. He concluded by stressing the League’s long-term vision for northern Nigeria: “We want a great north, but we also want a greater Nigeria.”

As the 2027 elections approach, all eyes will be on the League of Northern Democrats as they work to shape the political and economic future of northern Nigeria, with the goal of restoring unity and development to a region that has long been at the center of the country’s challenges.