Abuja, Nigeria - October 29, 2025 Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu’s administration will not tolerate the marginalisation of any group in Nigeria. Shettima gave the assurance when he received leaders and elders of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “This government is yours. Your interests shall always find representation here, for I am one of you. “And where there is a shortcoming, I assure you that you have direct access to me,” he said. The Vice-President said there was no better time for northern leaders to stand together as one. “We have proven, time and again, that our diversity is our strength, that our differences in tribe, faith and geography are the very bricks that make this house of destiny we live in. “This is why we must continue to resist all attempts to divide us or stir mischief among us. Our future depends on unity, and unity must remain our creed,” he said. Shettima said the North began as a region of stability and vision but had become scarred by insecurity, mistrust and economic decline. “We owe our people not only the burden of ending the cycle of killings and destruction that have crippled our communities, but also the duty of ensuring justice for victims of violence and deprivation,” he said. He noted that some agitations arise from genuine grievances, while others are driven by greed and selfish gain. “Our task is to embrace legitimate calls for equity and inclusion, and isolate those who seek to profit from chaos,” he said. Shettima said Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritised education, agriculture, industrialisation and security as the pillars of northern revival. He said government had strengthened education through reforms that empowered local governments and promoted fiscal autonomy at the grassroots. “We are moving beyond subsistence farming to large-scale commercial ventures, building agro-processing industries, and investing in microfinance systems to support smallholder farmers and MSMEs,” he said. On security, Shettima said the administration had made national security its top priority through coordinated operations that neutralised notorious bandit leaders and restored stability to affected communities. “This is the foundation upon which we intend to rebuild the North — through peace, through justice and through economic empowerment,” he said. Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of ACF, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, commended the Vice-President and northern appointees in Tinubu’s government for their loyalty and support. “As Northerners, the Vice-President is our number one ambassador. We are proud of his commitment and the contributions of all appointees from the North,” he said. Dalhatu said the forum would continue to support the administration while pointing out areas for improvement for the benefit of all Nigerians.