Afenifere Warns Nigeria Facing Its Worst Security Crisis Since Independence

Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, has raised alarm over what he described as Nigeria’s most severe security crisis since independence, calling for urgent partnerships between northern and southern leaders to rescue the nation from escalating violence and growing mistrust.

Fasoranti delivered the message through Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, Kole Omololu, at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.

He said Nigeria was currently “confronted by unimaginable violence, declining public trust, and the fraying of social bonds,” describing the ACF silver jubilee as a moment for sober reflection. “We have never had to deal with this level of insecurity… This is a sad moment for our country,” he noted.

While commending the ACF for its 25 years of advocacy and stabilising role in the North, Fasoranti said its founders envisioned a responsible platform for articulating northern interests while promoting unity and national cohesion.

Despite the growing insecurity, Fasoranti expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda had the potential to restore stability. Nigeria’s challenges, he said, “are immense and complex, but not insurmountable,” provided leaders embrace sincerity, courage, fairness, and justice.

He urged leaders across regions to strengthen cooperation based on trust and shared responsibility. “Ours must be a partnership grounded not in suspicion or rivalry, but in mutual respect,” he emphasized.

Fasoranti also called for a return to Nigeria’s foundational debates between 1953 and 1966, arguing that revisiting those discussions was crucial to understanding present challenges and securing the nation’s future. “It is time to reflect on what our fathers and leaders proposed… This has become urgent and imperative,” he said.

The event drew prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Aliko Dangote, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as representatives of Ohanaeze, PANDEF, BRAC, and other socio-cultural organisations.

Fasoranti commended the ACF’s contributions to national understanding, peace, and democratic values, urging the forum to stay committed to finding solutions to Nigeria’s mounting crises. He expressed hope that the next 25 years would bring “greater achievements, renewed purpose, and enduring relevance.”

The gathering underscored ACF’s enduring influence as a northern intellectual and policy platform shaping governance, national debate, and inclusive development.