ACF raises fresh concern over North’s insecurity
• Forum cautions against 2027 politicking at expense of region’s crisis The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has again expressed worry over the worsening insecurity, poverty and social dislocation across northern
• Forum cautions against 2027 politicking at expense of region’s crisis
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has again expressed worry over the worsening insecurity, poverty and social dislocation across northern Nigeria.
The region’s mouthpiece warned political actors against early 2027 politicking at the expense of urgent regional crises.
ACF’s Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), raised the concerns during the 79th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the forum at its secretariat on Sokoto Road, Kaduna.
He said the strong turnout at the meeting showed members’ deep concern for the region despite the economic and physical strain involved in attending NEC sessions without any financial reward.
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Osuman urged members to devote “premium time and attention” to deliberations that directly impact the lives of the downtrodden across the North.
The chairman cautioned against “convoluted groups” already strategising for the 2027 elections while communities battle out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
He noted that although some public office holders have rendered financial support to the ACF, many people remained disconnected from the forum’s core aspirations and programmes.
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Osuman reminded the forum’s members that its constitution clearly defines responsibilities, conduct and communication channels, warning that some of the forum’s platforms require caution and restraint.
He recalled that the Finance and General Purpose Committee met for 10 hours to review ACF’s financial framework and submitted recommendations to the National Working Committee (NWC), which met the following day to approve key decisions.
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Osuman praised the forum’s NWC for its diligence, explaining that the body resolves issues before presenting them to NEC for policy direction and implementation through various committees.
The chairman stressed that NEC remained a vital organ for sustaining the socio-cultural organisation and urged members to familiarise themselves with constitutional provisions guiding their roles.
He also announced plans to strengthen internal discipline with the creation of a Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee, presenting a nine-member list for NEC approval. The committee is to be headed by Professor Nuhu Mohammed Jamo, a former Dean of Law at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and consultant on the review of the 1999 Constitution.
Recalling some sorry developments that had happened since the last NEC meeting last August, Osuman said terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping had escalated in Southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue, Kwara, and other parts of the North.
The ACF chairman said repeated attacks had forced families into overcrowded camps, shut down schools, crippled rural economies, and restricted access to farms and healthcare.
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Describing the situation as dire, he said insecurity had worsened to the point where external military assistance became necessary.
Osuman urged the ACF state chapters to be proactive and action-driven.
As the country approaches another election cycle, the chairman urged ACF to work with authorities to ensure peaceful, credible polls and to educate citizens on civic responsibility, while insisting that discussions at the meeting must be fact-based and solution-oriented.
