- Says Northern Interests Will Be Best Served By Northerners
- Tinubu’s Economic Policies Impoverishing Nigerians
- Charges Northern Govs To Adopt Coordinated Strategies To Address Challenges Rocking Region
In an apparent withdrawal of its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has vowed to support a northern candidate for president during the general election in 2027.
The forum opined that the interests of the north will be best served by northerners.
The apex northern socio-cultural group made its position known in a communique issued at the end of the forum’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna on Wednesday.
“There is now a clarion call for individual sacrifices and individual inputs for the survival of our region and the emancipation of our downtrodden people,” National Chairman of ACF, Mamman Mike Osuman said.
“A sizeable number of our brothers and sisters in the region have demonstrated proclivity towards politics and political offices come 2027. They are already focusing on the 2027 elections.
“While politics is sine qua non in our clime, this present moment calls for the recognition of our Region’s plights and strategic efforts for ameliorating hardships that have beseeched on people.
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“I do understand their feelings. It is not in doubt that the North is currently under siege. Our dear region is not only being viciously attacked by bandits, terrorists and kidnappers but also by sinister devices like disproportionate considerations and inequitable treatment.
“Not long ago, I received an invitation from a new body called League of Northern Democrats (LND) attached to the invitation were seven (7) pages wherein were listed 260 names most of whom were former Governors, Senators and known great sons and daughters from the North.
“I do admit that some policies of the current administration are repugnant and adverse to our interests as a region.
“ACF believes that certain policies and behaviours of our leaders within our region need some critical evaluation. It is in that vein that I raise the following questions; to what extent are our elected leaders demonstrating prudence and concern for our domestic and environmental problems?
“To what extent are our Governors and legislators synergising with our traditional leaders in combating ills that exist within our region?’
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“To the extent that some of our sons, daughters, sisters and brothers are sometimes criminis participants in the disquiet, ills and crimes that torment us in our region, what are we (leaders of thought and stakeholders) doing towards arresting their evil trend and propensities.
“Have our parents, religious teachers and the elites initiated an orientation and public awareness that will educate our people on the need for self-defence and self-preservation?
“Illegal mining by foreigners aided by our people exists in some states. What local strategies are on the ground towards arresting this vice,” Osuman stated.
Continuing, the ACF said the present administration’s economic policies “have continued to make matters much worse” for the people of the northern region.
“Succinctly stated, economic reforms, while indeed desirable, should not impoverish the same people that they are meant to serve; the people may not be alive to reap the putative benefits,” the communique reads.
“The forum therefore called on President Tinubu to review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of his economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”
The ACF noted that the northerners remain particularly disadvantaged, being economically worse off compared to other regions in Nigeria.
“The livelihoods of many depend on micro-activities,” the forum said.
“The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; 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 glaring economic challenges, the policies of the current federal government have continued to worsen matters, with little indication of the needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of Arewa people.
“The growing food crisis must be addressed through both short- and long-term measures, including imports where necessary, but the ultimate solution is achieving food self-sufficiency.
“Public policy and law should also be adopted to achieve a balance in population growth.
“Poor electricity supply continues to hamper efforts to address poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment in the region. These issues require urgent attention.”
It encouraged the federal government to embrace criticism, noting that feedback strengthens policymaking and benefits the public.
The forum said northern governors should adopt coordinated strategies for addressing insecurity, education, skills acquisition, agriculture, health services, and other critical areas.
“The interests of the north will be best served by northerners,” the ACF added.
