There is palpable tension within the ranks of prominent northern organisations over the region’s speculated bid for 2027, as the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) knocked the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a socio-cultural group, for delving into politics.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting in Kaduna, Wednesday, the ACF bemoaned what it called the poor state of the north and also faulted some policies of the Bola Tinubu–led government, concluding that northern interest would be best served by northerners.
Among others, the meeting called on Northern elites, in all spheres of life, to take it upon themselves to counter negative narratives about the North and also imbibe the spirit of community service, individually and collectively. The interests of the North will be best served by Northerners.
“People should take responsibility for our fast-growing population. Public policy and the law should be adopted to achieve a balance.”
…Arewa Think Tank faults position
Rejecting the position, however, the ATT said the ACF could not have decided the political choice of members, saying the body is apolitical.
A statement Thursday by the Convener of ATT, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, claimed that some of the media reports might have quoted the position of the ACF out of context, even as the body charged the ACF to clarify its positions.
It said: “ACF is not a political organisation that can speak as an opposition party. ACF is apolitical and all its members belong to different political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). So the Forum cannot decide for political parties against President Tinubu.
“Some media reports that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its support for Northern presidential candidates in the 2027 general elections is nothing but an imaginative news story hanging on the heels of fake news.”
Quoting the ACF chair, the statement said: “In his remarks at the NEC meeting of the Forum, the ACF Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, said that even though some of President Tinubu’s policies are unacceptable by the region, the bulk of the blame over underdevelopment of the North should go to its leaders.
“ACF Chair acknowledged a newly founded Northern group which according to him has some members of ACF as its new members, advising that their well thought out charities should begin at home in the North.
“He admitted that some policies of the current administration are repugnant and adverse to the interests of Northern region. ACF believes that certain policies and behaviours of our own leaders within our region need some critical evaluation.
“The ACF Chairman raised some questions, asking; to what extent are our northern elected leaders demonstrating prudence and concern for our domestic and environmental problems, to what extent are our Governors and legislators synergizing with our traditional leaders in combating ills that exist within our region.
“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 minings by foreigners aided by our own people exist in some states. What local strategies are on ground towards arresting this vice.”
“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 by sinister devices like disproportionate considerations and inequitable treatments,” the statement further quoted the ACF leader as saying.
…Wants ACF to speak up
Throwing the challenge at the ACF leadership, however, Yakubu said: “From the ACF chairman’s speech, Arewa Think Tank believes that the ACF position was well misquoted by some media coverage because from the speech there is no place saying that the ACF has dumped President Tinubu over 2027 presidential election.
“However, we challenge ACF leadership to deny or own up to some of the media reports that North has dumped President Tinubu over the 2027 presidential race.”
…Northern democrats