In a decisive meeting in Kaduna, chieftains of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have underscored the necessity for the North to take charge of its future, emphasizing that its interests will be best served by Northerners. The Forum’s National Executive Council, led by Chairman Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, convened to evaluate the state of Arewa and the broader Nigerian nation, calling for immediate and strategic actions to address critical regional challenges.
The communiqué reads: ACF National Executive Council Meets; Reviews Activities, Appraises State of Arewa and the Nation
“A meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) took place at the organisation’s headquarters in Kaduna on Wednesday, 20th September, 2024. Delegates at the meeting came from states in Arewa as well as the Diaspora Chapter, presided over by the NEC Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR. The meeting reviewed ACF’s activities since its meeting of May 2024.”
“In his opening remarks, the Chairman welcomed members and noted with satisfaction the resurgence of ACF as the leading socio-cultural organisation, which seeks to unify the various and diverse peoples of the North under a common vision and mission, united in pursuit of the collective interests of the Arewa people within the context of Nigeria. The Chairman enjoined members to remain focused, foremost on the interests of Arewa as well as the goals and objectives of ACF, as there is a whole lot that needs to be done and time is running out.
“The Chairman enjoined chapters to remain purpose-driven, disavowing religious and ethnic differences, but to strive to be accommodating and ensure harmonious relationships with state governors. The meeting expressed satisfaction with the reinvigorated and rejuvenated ACF, urging state chapters to emulate the National body by rising to be counted and visible in articulating the vision and mission of ACF at their respective levels.
“Arising from the meeting, the state of Arewa and the Nigerian nation were reviewed from the perspective of ACF as the voice of Northern Nigeria, focusing on the economy, existential conditions, politics, security, social challenges, peace, coexistence, and political development.
“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of the Arewa people, which has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government; such that people have started to ask what the purpose of government is! That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable. The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.
“Leadership selection appears flawed, which allows so many people without competence and/or experience to rise to positions of power and authority. This has to be addressed. There is also a tendency to base politics on personalities, not issues, and this has compounded the sorry state of affairs. Arewa must ask how this came to be and what can be done to redress the situation.
The communiqué highlighted a pressing need for Northern leadership to rethink policy approaches, especially concerning security, education, and economic development. The ACF expressed profound concern over the prevailing insecurity, deeming it the most significant threat to the region’s stability and urging a government response that prioritizes safeguarding life and property.
Education emerged as a pivotal topic, with the Forum lamenting the high number of out-of-school children in the North and the inadequacy of both secular and religious educational systems. The ACF called for comprehensive reforms to reverse these trends, linking educational deficiencies to broader socio-economic issues.
Economic policies under the current federal administration also came under scrutiny. The ACF criticized these policies for exacerbating poverty and inequality, particularly disadvantaging the North. They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to infuse a more humane perspective into economic strategies and called on Northern state governors to adopt a unified approach in policy execution.
Part of the statement read :
“Members expressed displeasure at the current and continuing impoverishment of the proverbial common men and women in the country due to the economic policies of the current administration. The meeting noted in particular that Arewa people remain at great disadvantage, being already relatively worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria.
“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity, and its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now. Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaringly challenging economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse, with little indication of needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of the Arewa people.
“Calls on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review, reassess, reevaluate, and reorder the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving them the needed human face.
“Strongly calls on the governors of the Northern states to adopt a strong, coordinated approach to policy planning and implementation, particularly in the areas of security, education, skills acquisition, agricultural production, and health services.
The Forum further recommended that Northern elites engage in community service and work collectively to dismantle negative stereotypes about the region. It underscored the importance of addressing the fast-growing population through public policy and law to achieve demographic balance.
The ACF’s vision for the North emphasizes collaborative leadership and strategic planning, with a focus on security, education, and sustainable economic development, ahead of the 2027 elections.
