Insurgency: North’s calm nature has kept us from speaking out – Datti Baba-Ahmed

The calm nature of Northern Nigeria has prevented people from speaking out against insurgency, according to Datti Baba-Ahmed, a chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). He made the remarks on Thursday during an interview on Trust TV, stating that despite widespread insecurity across the North, cultural tendencies have discouraged public protest. Baba-Ahmed, who identified himself as a Northerner and a proud Muslim, said other regions in Nigeria are more vocal about civic and political issues such as insecurity and the exchange rate. He contrasted the North's restraint with the assertiveness seen in the South West, noting that cultural differences shape how communities respond to grievances. While acknowledging the value of peaceful traditions, he questioned whether this docility has allowed certain injustices to persist unchecked. Baba-Ahmed highlighted that northerners react swiftly when matters involve religion or ethnicity, citing examples like blasphemy or ethnic provocation in the North Central. However, he pointed out that structural issues like Band A allocations—which refer to higher pension tiers for certain states—remain unchallenged in northern states such as Borno or Sokoto. He emphasized that the lack of protest does not mean the absence of suffering, as northerners face the same national challenges. No immediate action or policy change was announced following the interview. The discussion is expected to continue in public and political circles.

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