Buhari, Babangida, governors shun Arewa Forum

Former military heads of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Maj.Gen. Mohammadu Buhari; former President Shehu Shagari and the 19 north’s governors among others, yesterday shunned the yearly General Meeting of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) held in Kaduna.

At the meeting which was attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Niger State Governor and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu passed a damning verdict on the region’s leadership. He said it’s current generation of leaders have failed to develop the region after the era of Sir Ahmadu Bello.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto questioned the impartiality of the ACF in the handling of the social, political and economic development of the North, saying “this may actually be the time to ask ourselves, what should truly be the role of the ACF?

He said: “Are we impartial arbiters who should be in the vanguard to frankly and courageously guide the political, social and economic development of the North in particular and the nation in general?

“Should we continue to perhaps arrogantly demand for what should have been the right and privilege of every citizen of this country? Should we be myopic and eccentric in our agitations and negotiations in the interest of the north, within the wider interest of the nation?

Raising questions for the Forum to address, the governor asked: “When we talk about the North today, what are we really talking about? Do we still have the North that reflects a trans-ethnic community and the northerner as a citizen that transcends tribal, religious and class affiliation?

“Where do we stand today in the political equation of this country? Do we still have the ball; or where did we lose it and are we still in the game? Are we prepared and ready to compete with other regions?

Aliyu stressed that these questions have become paramount in view of the turn of events in the country and the concern by many that “the behaviour of some of us in leadership position and the entire elite class are falling short of what would have been the expectations of the founding fathers of the North/Nigeria and indeed the expectations of the younger generations who are beginning to feel that ours is a failed generation of leaders.

The governor noted that the current situation explain why “we are still groping in the dark over 50 years after our national independence, almost 45 years after the Sadauna and indeed 11 years after ACF.

He spoke of the need to redefine the role of the ACF and similar groups routing for the socio-economic and political transformation of the North. 

Vice President Namadi Sambo stressed the determination of the Federal Government to foster national unity, peace and progress, adding that the promotion of cordial and harmonious co-existence amongst our people should be a sine-qua-non.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Forum and former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Gen. Jeremiah Useni expressed concern over the continued killing of northerners by fellow northerners, stressing that such happening has put a question mark on the continued existence of the forum.

Kaduna State Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa represented by his Deputy, Mukthar Ramalan Yero urged the forum to cooperate with the government in preaching peaceful co-existence among “our people, particularly at this volatile period of electioneering since no development can be achieved without peace.

At the meeting were former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Chief Justice of the Federation, Lawal Uwais, FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, former Inspector General of Police, Ahmadu Coomassie, Gen. Halilu Akilu, Gen. Inuwa Wushishi, Gen. David Jemibewon, Ambassador Hassan Adamu,  Ambassador Ladan Shuni, Senator Isaiah Balat among others.