ACF vows to remain non-partisan, urges North on vigilance

The Arewa Consultative Forum has urged northern leaders and citizens to remain vigilant and united in the face of escalating insecurity, political treachery and environmental disasters threatening the stability of the region.

Chairman of the Forum, Chief Mamman Osuman (SAN), made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during the 78th National Executive Committee (meeting of the body, where he warned against complacency and misinformation within the ranks of the North’s socio-political leadership.

“This is not the time to sit on the fence or like the Ostrich, hide its head in the sand under the delusive pretext that it sees nothing. We must remain united and resolved against imperfections, avarice, misgivings, deceit, misinformation, misdirection and incongruities,” Osuman charged.

He noted that the North had continued to grapple with insecurity ranging from terrorism to banditry, alongside natural disasters such as flooding, insisting that the Forum was deeply concerned about the toll on human lives.

We have lost children, middle-aged men and women, and the aged to natural causes, flood, drowning, and to evil criminals, psychopaths, gangsters, bandits, marauders and terrorists. Our pains as a region is therefore a major concern to ACF for which I ask for introspection and prayers,” he lamented.

The chairman also listed a number of prominent northern leaders and ACF stalwarts who recently passed away, including former Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Deputy Secretary-General, Alhaji Umar Moriki; former Minister, Professor Jubril Aminu; elder statesman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad Uwais; and immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“Just last week, the cruel hands of death snatched away our former Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh. We also lost Professor Jubril Aminu, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Justice Uwais, and Muhammadu Buhari. These are painful losses,” Osuman said.

Osuman used the occasion to reaffirm the Forum’s non-partisan stance, stressing that while members were free to hold personal political beliefs, the ACF would not align with any political party.

“At this juncture, I must remind all members that ACF is not partisan. While we each have our individual beliefs, ideologies and idiosyncrasies, ACF, to all intents and purposes, absolutely remains aloof and does not belong to any political party but is nonetheless, stoically, unapologetically, unreservedly and passionately attached to the mission of the salvation of the North and its people—without prejudice to the indivisibility and sovereignty of Nigeria,” he emphasised.

The Forum, he explained, would however continue to collaborate with organisations with similar objectives, disclosing that the “Forum for National Restoration” had been invited to address members during the NEC meeting.

Highlighting the Forum’s future plans, Osuman announced that preparations had reached advanced stages for ACF’s 25th anniversary celebration slated tentatively for October 15–30, 2025.

All hands are on deck towards this Jubilee celebration. Committees are already at work and I have been privileged to sit in on some of their meetings. The individual sacrifices of members, the discipline, consciousness, depth and scope of their preparations are amazing,” he revealed.

He assured members that the Secretary-General would provide further details on the anniversary programme during the deliberations.

The ACF Chairman further warned members against spreading unverified or radical views on its Rapid Response Platform, urging them to rely on state chapters and the headquarters for guidance.

“Those of you on the Rapid Response Platform of the ACF would have been reading some contributions, analysis, remarks and comments. Some are words of caution, some are informative, educational and enlightening, while some are radical views and can be misleading,” he cautioned.

Osuman disclosed that the 78th NEC meeting had 12 agenda items, which included updates on the Forum’s registered company, ARECON, as well as the recurring “ETTE issue.”

He said the popular “State of the Nation” segment, which is always the 10th item on the agenda, would be handled by the Forum’s Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Baba, culminating in the issuance of a communiqué at the end of the meeting.

The ACF boss ended his welcome address with a rallying call for resilience, law-abiding conduct and unity, describing the present period as a defining moment for the region.

“This is the time and space for us all to embrace brotherhood, truth and righteousness. We should always remain law abiding. When in doubt, please contact the leadership of your State Chapters or recourse to the headquarters at No. 11A Sokoto Road,” he advised.

He also led members in a solemn prayer for the repose of departed leaders and citizens, saying: “May Allah forgive their transgressions. And may their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

The NEC meeting was attended by prominent northern leaders, who later went into closed-door deliberations on regional unity, security challenges, and the planned silver jubilee of the Forum.