•Group decries escalating attacks in Northern Nigeria
As the 2027 general elections draw near, there is an urgent need for the emergence of new leaders, new voices of influence, and new custodians of political capital to fill the emerging vacuum in the North.

The Convener of Alternative, Segun Showunmi, who advised in his condolence message when he visited Nasir el-Rufai over the demise of his mother, said with figures like former President Muhammadu Buhari no longer occupying the central space they once did, especially in the political imagination of the rural North, a vacuum both symbolic and strategic is emerging in the region.

Showunmi noted that politics, by its very nature, is a hard trade, which demands resilience, clarity of purpose, and often an iron will.Yet, it also raises an uncomfortable question: “How do we reconcile ambition with empathy? How do individuals who share history, geography, and even aspirations for a common good find it within themselves to inflict deep wounds on one another? These are not abstract questions; they define the character of our political culture.”

He added, “It is in this context that one must acknowledge the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Leadership is not only tested in moments of triumph, but in the ability to temper conflict with humanity. At critical junctures, the capacity to de-escalate tensions and remind all actors of their shared purpose becomes a mark of true statesmanship.”

The activist regretted that Nigeria’s political arena has long struggled with a paradox: “we demand competence and results, yet we are often quick to undermine those who demonstrate both, particularly when their prospects, real or imagined, begin to unsettle established balances.

This tendency does not merely affect individuals; it constrains national progress.”

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), yesterday, raised the alarm over escalating insecurity in the region, warning against attempts to exploit ethnic and religious divisions, as well as the growing involvement of foreign actors.

The group condemned recent attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states, describing them as brutal and inhumane. It cited the killing of at least 14 people in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Council of Plateau, and another attack on a wedding gathering in Kagarko council area of Kaduna, where 13 persons were reportedly killed and several others abducted.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, CNG said the deliberate targeting of civilians represents a grave assault on humanity and must be condemned by all.

The group also raised the alarm over reports of retaliatory actions by some youths in Plateau, cautioning that reprisals, mob violence, and identity-based profiling could further inflame tensions and deepen divisions.