ACF Urges Tinubu To Tackle Insecurity In North

The Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, has called for urgent action on several issues affecting Northern Nigeria, including security, land reform, and federal government policies.

Speaking at the ACF meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, Dalhatu expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the North, citing persistent killings and attacks in several states of the region.

“We wish to assure all the people of the North of our determination to take all necessary measures in consultation and collaboration with our political, traditional, religious, and other leaders to bring this crisis to an end in the shortest time possible,” he said.

Dalhatu also condemned the growing hostility and attacks against Northerners in Southern states, describing it as “deeply regrettable” and “painful.”

He noted that the North has always welcomed people from all parts of Nigeria with unlimited hospitality and brotherhood, and it is ironic that Southerners have refused to reciprocate this gesture.

“While on the subject of violence and killings, we must review and condemn in the strongest possible terms, the growing hostility and attacks against Northerners that choose to live or pursue livelihoods in the southern states of Nigeria. Even innocent Northerners on journeys through southern states get killed or subjected to inhumane treatment, a tragedy which, unfortunately, successive administrations in this country have failed to stop.

“The maltreatment and attacks on Northerners in the South is especially ironic and painful given the fact that, for centuries, the North has kept its doors wide open and welcomed people from all parts of Nigeria, courtesy of our unlimited hospitality and brotherhood.

“It is deeply regrettable, therefore, that Southerners have refused to reciprocate this noble gesture by the North. In fact, in many parts of the South, especially in the Southeast, a Northerner can not expect to acquire one square foot of land, not to speak of owning any significant landed property.

“The time has come for governors and legislators in the Northern states to carry through a comprehensive reform of the system of land ownership and control. The need for this reform is self-evident, especially given the current mad scramble for land in the North by foreigners. Authorities in the North must ensure that Northerners do not become landless in their own territory.

“The growing hostility and hate mongering against Northerners in the South, appears to be exacerbated by the current unequal and discriminatory policies of the federal government toward the North. These negative developments have prompted a growing disenchantment and disillusionment amongst Northerners against the Federation of Nigeria. Some in the North now openly question the rationale or justification for remaining in the union,” he said.

The ACF Chairman also expressed concern over the federal government’s failure to implement the provisions of the law creating the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, which requires the government to pay adequate compensation and relocate the indigenous population but this has not been done.

“The indigenous people of Abuja have been forcefully driven away from their ancestral land and rendered landless and homeless.

“This is an injustice that must be addressed. We demand that the federal government fulfils its obligations to the indigenous people of Abuja, including the creation of their own state within the federation,” he said.

Dalhatu further noted that the current preoccupation with the 2027 national elections is premature and a disservice to the principle of the 4-year-term-limit given to elected officials.

He suggested that the ACF should appoint a special committee to conduct a detailed study and review of the policies, projects, and programs embarked upon by the current government and determine how they have impacted the various parts of the country, particularly Northern Nigeria.

The ACF Chairman emphasized the importance of unity and regional interests, saying, “Northern Nigeria will remain faithful not to particular politicians or political parties but to those who care about our regional interests and are willing to promote and protect them.”

“The view has been expressed, and it bears repeating here that current preoccupation with the 2027 national elections is premature and a disservice to the principle of the 4-year-term-limit given to elected officials.

“For the moment, it will suffice to say that Northern Nigeria is watching and auditing the actions of the elected and appointed officials; especially at the federal level,” he added.

In conclusion, Dalhatu expressed confidence in the North’s potential to compete and prevail in any fair competition within the federation of Nigeria and even within the larger African continent.

Dalhatu added: “It is clear that Northern Nigeria is today bedevilled by numerous existential problems, some of which I have tried to highlight above. What is not in doubt is the fact that the North has in abundance what it takes to compete and prevail in any fair competition within the federation of Nigeria and even within the larger African continent.

“The North has 19 out of the 36 states. We also have the FCT as a waritable component. We have a majority in the Senate, the House of Representatives, the National Economic Council as well as the Council of States. The North occupies close to 75% of Nigeria’s land area and about 60% of the population.”

ACF Urges Tinubu To Tackle Insecurity In North is first published on The Whistler Newspaper