Arewa leaders, under the umbrella of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have apologised to all Northerners for not defending their interests under the present socio-political dispensation of insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria, saying that they are now ready for any constitutional review and restructuring of the country under President Bola Tinubu’s Government.
The ACF summoned a meeting of its Board of Trustees (BoT), headed by its Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu, on Wednesday, which was attended by several Northern leaders, as they protested against recent past constitutional conferences in the country which tended to foist the interests of the South on the North.
In his address, the ACF BoT Chairman, Dalhatu, said that going by the pronouncements and actions of some officials of the federal government, especially in view of recent pressures coming from some self-serving groups, the presidency may not be averse to making a similar attempt at an unnecessary constitution review before the end of their tenure.”
He added, “Whether or not the federal government sponsors one or more exercises at constitutional review, it is necessary to dispel the impression that the North is shy, or is averse to or afraid of any review of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Nothing can be further from the truth. We must put all and sundry on notice that the North is ready, now and in the future, and will be willing to consider any proposals for changing the constitution as well as the administrative structure of Nigeria that may be put on the table. If and when the occasion arises, the North will surely use whatever is available to it in pursuit of its legitimate interests.
“These are only a few of the issues we thought this and perhaps subsequent meetings of the ACF should have on its agenda. They are by no means exhaustive, and members will be welcome to propose additional agenda items for consideration.”
Besides, he explained that “this meeting is not designed to be an avenue to apportion blame or point fingers at any individual or group of individuals for the problems of the North,” pointing out that “the truth is that we are, at our different levels, all culpable.”
Dalhatu added: “As a matter of fact, we owe our people, the people of Northern Nigeria, deep apologies for our collective failure to protect the region from falling into one of the worst crises in its history.
“From the personal introductions made, it is clear that a huge number of the elders and thoughtful leaders from every part of Northern Nigeria are here seated in this hall for the meeting. This is an outcome that should gladden our hearts and encourage us, going forward, to remain optimistic. It seems possible yet again to envisage: One North, One People, One Destiny! The ACF, our umbrella platform, is neither pro-government nor anti-government at any level. We are pro-North. We shall acknowledge good deeds but will firmly resist unfair and unjust treatment against us.
“The challenges before us at this meeting are twofold: first, fixing the ACF as a special purpose vehicle without which we cannot get well organised, and secondly, exploring strategies of tackling the existential challenges facing the North and Nigeria as a country. These tasks are the reason for calling the meeting and they will form its main agenda.”
Meanwhile, ACF has lamented over the “waning interest and declining participation in it by the leaders and elders of the North, including the teeming youth population,” while urging them to be more proactive in fighting the common problems of the North.
Dalhatu said: “As earlier highlighted in our letter of invitation, this is a meeting of concerned Northerners against the background of the grave and escalating crisis of nationhood plaguing Nigeria in general and Northern Nigeria in particular. It is not about politics and definitely not about partisanship. Far from it.
“The overriding objectives of this meeting have been made clear from our correspondences and subsequent discussions on social media and other fora. They are twofold: One, to set in motion the process of revitalising, reinventing, and re-strategizing the Arewa Consultative Forum, to enable it to play the role intended for it by the founding fathers, some 24 years ago. Two, to draw up plans, preferably a road map, that would help our region and country address or at least significantly mitigate the current existential challenges plaguing it.”
However, Dalhatu also identified the nature of the problems and actions sought at the national level in addressing the challenges in the North and Nigeria in general.
Listing them as security of lives and property among others, he said that “at the moment, there is nothing troubling the North more than insecurity.”
“The historically quiet, peaceful, and prosperous North is today ravaged by Boko Haram and other insurgencies, banditry as well as other violent crimes. The menace of drug trafficking and abuse keeps growing by the day. There does not appear to be any end in sight. Because of the strife, food production is becoming increasingly difficult as farmlands are abandoned and the farmers are either killed or are fleeing to the IDP camps.”
“Whatever it takes, this crisis has to end, and end quickly. Our survival depends on it,” he stressed.
He further identified “deepening levels of poverty, destitution, and hunger; growing joblessness, especially among the youth, and the twin calamities of almajiri and street children are all crying for solution.”
