North ranks high in poverty, illiteracy, insecurity — ACF

•Distances self from planned protest
•Says it’s ill-timed, counter-productive
•Tinubu is not Anti-North—Gov Sani

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has said the North remains essentially a work in progress, saying “All the indices that track human progress, most of all poverty, illiteracy, health and security of life and property, tend to place the North at the deep end of the trough.”

This came as the forum dissociated itself from the planned nationwide protest against bad governance, saying it was ill-timed and counterproductive.

Chairman of the ACF, Mamman Osuman, who spoke yesterday during a visit to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, noted that “Regarding the planned national protest, the ACF National President said the Forum is not a party to it and will not support it as it is ill-timed and counterproductive.”
He said, “This visit, to promote a deeper and wider conversation around the current crises of insecurity and poverty ravaging Northern Nigeria.

“In their wisdom, Northern leaders, including state governors, Emirs and Chiefs and other Elders, decided to establish the ACF in 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 ‘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.

Today, however, despite our valiant efforts, the achievement of peace, unity and progress in the North remains essentially a work in progress. All the indices that track human progress, most of all poverty, illiteracy, health and security of life and property, tend to place the North at the deep end of the trough. A great deal of work awaits all Northerners. It is therefore incumbent on our leaders and citizens alike to change the narrative without further delay.

We at ACF remain committed to articulating and defending the interests of the peoples of the North through our various activities. One 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.

We are planning to organise two important events in the coming months. On the 19th of October, 2024, General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s most respected former Head of State and one of the few surviving founders of the ACF, will be 90 years old. Secondly, in March 2025, the ACF will itself clock 25 years since its establishment.

The ACF plans to mark both events in a significant way. We will be extending, very respectfully, our invitation to Your Excellency at the appropriate time. We will look eagerly forward to having you as our Chief Host for both events.

It remains for us to thank Your Excellency once again for all that you have been doing on behalf of the people of Kaduna State, Nigeria and no less the ACF. We thank you for the support and assistance you always give not only to us at the national level but to the state chapter as well.

We are very hopeful that Your Excellency’s doors will remain wide open for us in the months and years to come.”

Credit: Vanguard