In response to the planned nationwide protest, the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has come out to distance itself from such describing it as ill timed, lacking purpose and unproductive and as such would not participate in the protest.
The National Chairman of the forum, Mamman Osuman who made the submission after a courtesy visit to the Governor of Kaduna state, Uba Sani, said the ACF has agreed on a consensus on the nationwide protest, which he noted is not for the good interest of the North and the entire country.
The chairman then called on the people of the North not to participate in the protest, citing it as a medium of fuelling violence in the region. The ACF also complained about poverty, violent crimes and retarded development which has plagued the region.
They however commended Governor Sani for his innovative policies of rural development and social reconciliation, which it believed have the potential to greatly mitigate the endemic insecurity and poverty in the North. According to the chairman:
“As a matter of fact, we have long sought such an opportunity to express our profound appreciation and support for the innovative policies of rural development and social reconciliation, which Your Excellency committed yourself to do in Kaduna State. We cannot wait to celebrate the positive outcomes of these visionary policies.
“Our rural areas stand in great need of attention and transformation, given the growing scourge of multidimensional poverty and violent crimes ravaging the North. Dedicated and well-funded rural development programmes such as yours have the potential to greatly mitigate the endemic insecurity and banditry going on across the country.
“In their wisdom, Northern leaders, including state governors, Emirs and Chiefs and other Elders, decided to establish the ACF back in the year 2000. It was against the background of a similar crisis of widespread insecurity and strife. The intention was to bring together on one platform, representatives of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria without regard to political, ethnic or religious affiliation. ACF is to operate as a ‘Citizens ‘or Elders ‘Council and keep its eyes and ears open. It is to look out for issues and developments that can potentially lead to disharmony, conflicts or crises across the North and promote development. At the lower levels, our state chapters operate with the same template.
“We at ACF remain committed to articulating and defending the interests of the peoples of the North through our various activities. One of such was the recently constituted Technical Committee that reviewed the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by the ACF. The report of the Technical Committee formed the basis of ACF’s submission to the joint committees of the National Assembly on Constitution review. Our input will be formally made available to the Northern Governors’ Forum”.
On his part, Governor Sani urged the citizens of Kaduna, not to take part in any protest against the government, citing that the organisers of the protest do not mean well for the country.
Governor Sani also absolved President Bola Tinubu of working against the North as alleged in some quarters.
He said, “The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has been giving uncommon support to state governments in the North to address their myriad challenges. The narrative that President Tinubu is against the North is false, absurd and unbecoming.
“It is the handiwork of elements who are experts at political manipulation. They are only interested in feathering their political nests, not the development of Northern Nigeria. The Arewa Consultative Forum must beware of such elements. Their antics and manipulations are chiefly responsible for the relegation of the North to the economic and political backwaters.”
A nationwide protest has been rumoured scheduled for 1st August this year to protest hardship, poverty, hunger, and economic downturn.
Previously, the Ohaeneze Ndigbo, the Apex Igbo cultural group had earlier distanced themselves from the planned protest and asked the Igbo youths nationwide not to participate. Now, the Arewa Consultative Forum also distance themselves from the planned protest and advise its youth not to participate. Will the protest then still hold?
