Former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), has called on political, religious and traditional leaders in Northern Nigeria to close ranks and work collectively to rescue the region from what he described as a gradual decline.
Babangida made the appeal in a statement delivered on Thursday, where he expressed concern over the increasing loss of prominent Northern elders, noting that their passing signified an urgent need for renewed leadership commitment to the region’s stability and development.
He said the North had, over the years, produced influential figures in religion, politics and public service whose contributions helped shape the country, but warned that the current generation of leaders must rise to sustain that legacy.
“You can see that many of the region’s respected elders are passing away, including top religious scholars, politicians, and others,” Babangida was quoted as saying. “Our prayer is to end our lives in faith.”
The former Head of State further reflected on his administration’s role in national restructuring, citing the relocation of the Federal Capital Territory from Lagos to Abuja as a strategic decision intended to enhance national balance and accessibility.
“If I had left the Federal Capital in Lagos and not moved it closer to our Northern region, perhaps today the North would not even be recognized as it is,” he said.
“Alhamdulillah, we have done our part, and now our time is coming to an end.”
Babangida appealed for unity among Northern stakeholders, stressing that cohesion remained critical to addressing the region’s socio-political and economic challenges.
He urged emerging leaders to prioritise collective interest over division, warning that the region risked further setbacks without deliberate and coordinated action to strengthen its institutions and leadership structures.
