The Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has faulted the suspension of the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mamman Osuman (SAN), over utterances deemed antagonistic to President Bola Tinubu.
 
  However, the North Central All Progressives (APC) Forum has distanced Tinubu from the alleged lopsided appointment of government functionaries from the zone, but blamed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.

  In a release signed by its President, Dr Ali Idris, and National Secretary, Abdulhafiz Garba, yesterday, NYA worried that rather than defending the interest of the region, ACF reduced the forum to a mere protecting agent of the Tinubu administration. 

  NYA, however, demanded immediate lifting of Osuman’s suspension in the interest of the North and threatened to take over the Kaduna office of ACF, if the chairman was not reinstated. 

  It stated: “It is rather shameful that the ACF that is expected to be on the side of the masses would resort to such incivility and undemocratic action against one of its respected leaders, simply for speaking on behalf of the masses against the increasing anti-people policies of Tinubu’s government, the worst in the Nigerian democratic journey so far.  

  “The shameful action of ACF, through the Board of Trustees (BoT), is a clear indication that ACF is not for the Arewa masses, who bear the brunt of these anti-human policies that has pushed millions of Nigerians into abject poverty.” 

  The group described the letter signed by ACF BoT Chairman, Bashir Dalhatu (Wazirin Dutse), and Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu (Matawallen Gombe), to suspend Osuman as the height of disregard, asserting that the suspension was aimed at pleasing Tinubu for self-serving interest and political ambition.

  NYA further said, “Although the action of ACF did not come to us as a surprise, considering that, after 24 years of the establishment of ACF, the organisation has never achieved anything tangible to support the development of Northern Nigeria, except organising tea conferences and talk shows for the display of affluence, power and luxury.”

It asked the ACF BoT to, as a matter of urgency, lift the suspension and restore Osuman’s powers and honour within seven days, or risk the take-over of the ACF secretariat in Kaduna. 

  “We are, therefore, of a strong opinion that Nigerians deserve better than they are getting under Tinubu, who is hell bent on heeding to the dangerous and anti-people economic policy advisory of Bretton Woods institutions, thereby pushing more Nigerians into economic vulnerability.

THE APC forum led by Saleh Zazzaga, in a statement, yesterday, threatened to release further evidence to prove its allegation of lopsided appointments against Akume, saying it was unfortunate that the SGF chose to engage in a media war, rather than heed its advice to adjust his approach to leadership and carry the North Central along. 

  It noted that it decided not to release details of the alleged lopsided appointments due to its respect for Akume.

  Insisting that it was not sponsored by anybody or group, the group claimed it had a history of engaging in agitations for the development of the North Central region and the party.
  “Akume should not take this issue personally. It is not about any individual but about the interests and progress of the North Central region and the APC.

  “We are not blackmailing the SGF, and we are not being sponsored by anybody or any group. We have evidence to show that the allegation that the SGF is making lopsided appointments; it is not baseless, as his spokespersons claimed. 

  “Also, the North Central APC Forum is not asking for appointments for its members, as claimed by the SGF’s supporters. We, as stakeholders, are asking that the SGF, as the leader of the party in the zone, should extend appointments to all sections of the North Central, and not limit such opportunities to his Tiv people of Benue.”