Presidential aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Hashim, has called for immediate, practical measures to confront the worsening security crisis across Northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Sunday, Hashim urged Northern political, traditional, and social elites to accept responsibility for the region’s deteriorating security landscape.
He also welcomed the appointment of Christopher Musa (retd.) as Minister of Defence, stressing that the role must produce real results rather than symbolic gestures.
“I watched General Musa during his Senate screening. He appeared genuinely committed to Nigeria. I hope he receives the full executive backing needed to deliver on this critical assignment,” he said.
Hashim warned that both Nigerians and international observers are tired of repeated promises without tangible progress, emphasizing that the country has reached a breaking point where citizens demand immediate, measurable action to stop killings, kidnappings, and the expansion of extremist groups in the North.
He argued that internal governance failures have allowed extremist networks to recruit thousands of young people across the region.
“The fact that extremists are finding recruits in their thousands is no coincidence. It is the outcome of severe poverty created by decades of governance collapse at state and local government levels. The Sahel crisis has played a role, but poor local leadership made the situation far worse,” he noted.
Hashim contrasted the current insecurity and leadership shortcomings with the disciplined political culture of the First Republic, citing iconic Northern leaders such as Ahmadu Bello, Aminu Kano, Joseph Tarka and Kashim Ibrahim.
“In their era, the North was safer, more united, and governed with discipline and integrity. Today, too many leaders live like oil sheikhs amid widespread poverty,” he lamented.
He stressed the need for a moral and political reset in the region, urging the emergence of a new generation of leaders committed to accountability and the public good.
“It is time for the North to replace leaders who live extravagantly while the people suffer, and who retain power through ethnic and religious manipulation,” Hashim added.
