Nigeria, July 26 -- Former Senate President and interim chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has delivered a scathing critique of Northern Nigeria's leadership, declaring that the region's deep-rooted challenges are "self-inflicted."

Speaking at the 3rd Expanded Meeting of the Northern National Political Consultative Group (NPCG) in Abuja, Mark said insecurity, poverty, political division, and economic stagnation were consequences of poor leadership and internal disunity.

"Let's stop the blame game," he told Northern leaders. "We are the architects of our problems."

The former Senate President lamented that despite the North's rich resources and heritage, it remains Nigeria's poorest region, crippled by illite...