By Akinwale Kasali
As insecurity remains unabated in the North, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has called on Northern leaders and citizens to remain vigilant and united in the face of escalating insecurity, political treachery and environmental disasters threatening the stability of the region.
Mamman Osuman, Chairman of the Forum, made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during the 78th National Executive Committee meeting of the body, where he warned against complacency and misinformation within the ranks of the North’s socio-political leadership.
Speaking, Osuman said: “This is not the time to sit on the fence or like the Ostrich, hide its head in the sand under the delusive pretext that it sees nothing. We must remain united and resolved against imperfections, avarice, misgivings, deceit, misinformation, misdirection and incongruities,”
He noted that the North has continued to grapple with insecurity ranging from terrorism to banditry, alongside natural disasters such as flooding, insisting that the Forum was deeply concerned about the toll on human lives.
“We have lost children, middle-aged men and women, and the aged to natural causes, flood, drowning, and to evil criminals, psychopaths, gangsters, bandits, marauders and terrorists. Our pains as a region is therefore a major concern to ACF for which I ask for introspection and prayers,” he lamented.
He listed a number of prominent Northern leaders and ACF stalwarts who recently passed away, including former Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Deputy Secretary-General, Alhaji Umar Moriki; former Minister, Professor Jubril Aminu; elder statesman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad Uwais; and immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“Just last week, the cruel hands of death snatched away our former Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh. We also lost Professor Jubril Aminu, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Justice Uwais, and Muhammadu Buhari. These are painful losses,” Osuman said.
He used the occasion to reaffirm the Forum’s non-partisan stance, stressing that while members were free to hold personal political beliefs, the ACF would not align with any political party.
“At this juncture, I must remind all members that ACF is not partisan. While we each have our individual beliefs, ideologies and idiosyncrasies, ACF, to all intents and purposes, absolutely remains aloof and does not belong to any political party but is nonetheless, stoically, unapologetically, unreservedly and passionately attached to the mission of the salvation of the North and its people—without prejudice to the indivisibility and sovereignty of Nigeria,” he emphasised.
The Forum, he explained, would however continue to collaborate with organisations with similar objectives, disclosing that the “Forum for National Restoration” had been invited to address members during the NEC meeting.
He further warned members against spreading unverified or radical views on its Rapid Response Platform, urging them to rely on state chapters and the headquarters for guidance.
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