The Arewa Consultative Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the pressing issues of insecurity, education, and economic development in northern Nigeria.
Specifically, the ACF urged the President to review and reassess his administration’s economic policies to ensure they have a human face, given the current hardship Nigerians are facing.
The pan-northern socio-political organisation stated this in a communique released to newsmen at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna, on Wednesday.
The communique, signed by ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, expressed dissatisfaction with the current economic policies, which the forum claimed have worsened the condition of Northern Nigeria.
“The policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse, with little indications of needed sensitivity to the precarious existential conditions of Arewa people.
“The time to think big is now. Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring challenging economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the ACF said.
The forum also expressed concerns over the escalating security situation, noting that it had become a major challenge to human existence.
It noted that security was an irreducible minimum of human existence, adding that the government must take responsibility for safeguarding lives and property.
“Those whose responsibility it is to provide security saying they are doing their best is unacceptable. The minimum duty of the government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure,” the communique added.
On education, the forum emphasised the dire state of Northern Nigeria’s education system, particularly the alarming number of out-of-school children.
“Statistics of out-of-school children, of which Arewa has an overwhelming proportion, are cogent pointers to the situation.
“A lot has been done, but the truth is, far more needs to be done,” the ACF noted.
It urged northern governors to adopt a strong, coordinated approach to policy planning and implementation, particularly in areas such as security, education, and agricultural production.
The communiqué stated, “Despite the dire economic conditions in Arewa, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to worsen the situation, showing little sensitivity to the precarious existential challenges faced by the Arewa people.
“Succinctly stated, economic reforms, while indeed desirable, should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve; the people may not be alive to reap the putative benefits.
“In view of the above, the meeting resolved as follows: calls on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review, reassess, reevaluate and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.
“Strongly calls on the governors of the northern states to adopt a strong, coordinated approach to policy planning and implementation, as these relate to security, education, skills acquisition, agricultural production, health services, etc.
“Calls on the Federal Government to be receptive to criticisms, suggestions, etc., not only in line with the principles of democracy but also because they improve, not retard the policy process for the ultimate benefit of the people.
“Calls on the northern elite, 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.”
It added that “The growing food crisis with every through short and long term measures, including imports where needs be, but the ultimate solution is to achieve food self-sufficiency.
“People should take responsibility for our fast-growing population. Public policy and the law should be adopted to achieve a balance.
“Poor electricity supply will continue to hamper efforts to ameliorate poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in the region. These have to be addressed with utmost urgency.”
Speaking earlier on insecurity, the ACF lamented the operations of bandits and terrorists, killing and abducting citizens.
Its Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), stressed the urgent need for collective action to address the deteriorating situation.
Osuman highlighted the alarming rate of attacks, kidnappings, and killings in the region, stressing that these incidents had become too common.
He said, “The North is currently under siege from various threats, including bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and unjust treatment. We must come together to address these challenges.
“As leaders, we must demonstrate prudence and concern for domestic and environmental problems affecting our region.
“It is imperative that our governors and legislators work in synergy with traditional leaders to combat the ills plaguing our region.
“We must address the internal crimes perpetuated by our sons and daughters, and work towards preventing these trends.
“There is a need for public awareness campaigns to educate our people on the importance of self-defence and preservation.
“We must develop local strategies to combat illegal mining by foreigners and locals in our region.”
The forum endorsed the Shekarau-led League of Northern Democrats, convened by elder statesman, Dr Umar Ardo, and recently launched at a meeting attended by key Northern elites in Abuja.
The League of Northern Democrats is a group comprising former governors, senators, and other prominent figures from the region.
According to the chairman, the objectives of the group aligned with the ACF’s goals.
He, however, stressed the need for inward reflection and immediate action, rather than focusing solely on long-term political solutions.
The chairman emphasised the importance of collective action, inclusive leadership, and collaboration among stakeholders to address the region’s security challenges.
“The ACF commends the League of Northern Democrats’ objectives, which align with our goals, but we must focus on immediate action and inward reflection.
“We must prioritise economic empowerment, education and skills development, infrastructure development, and security and justice to revitalise the North,” Osuman said.