In a region besieged by banditry and economic stagnation, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda is forging a new coalition of the willing. Hosting the powerful Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Radda has issued a clarion call for Northern unity, arguing that the twin evils of insecurity and poverty can only be defeated if the region speaks—and acts—as one.

The meeting at the Katsina Government House was more than a ceremonial exchange of pleasantries; it was a war council. Governor Radda, whose state is at the epicenter of the banditry crisis, did not mince words. He challenged the ACF to move beyond rhetoric and become the intellectual and moral engine for the North’s revival. The presentation of the ACF’s emblematic pin to the Governor symbolized a pact of mutual commitment to this cause.

The "Zero Tolerance" Strategy

Radda’s administration has taken a hardline stance against criminality, investing heavily in the Community Watch Corps to complement federal security forces. He urged the ACF to mobilize community support for these initiatives.

• Regional Security: "We cannot secure Katsina if Zamfara is burning. We cannot be rich if our neighbors are starving," Radda argued, pushing for a cross-border security framework.
• Economic Integration: The Governor highlighted the need to revive the North’s agricultural prowess, turning the region’s vast arable land into an economic shield against poverty.

The Controversy of Amnesty

However, the Governor’s approach is not without controversy. Reports indicate a friction between Northern leaders and the Federal Government over the issue of amnesty for "repentant" terrorists. While Radda has previously explored non-kinetic approaches, the mood in the room suggested a shift towards absolute decisiveness. The ACF’s endorsement of Radda’s leadership signals that the Northern elite are closing ranks behind governors who show grit.

As the ACF delegation departed, the message was clear: The North is waking up. Under leaders like Radda, the narrative is shifting from victimhood to resilience. But with bandits still prowling the forests, the test of this unity will be measured not in pins and trophies, but in the safety of the villagers in Kankara and Jibia.