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Tag: Arewa Consultative Forum

  • ACF seeks investigation of military drone attack on Tudun Biri community

    ACF seeks investigation of military drone attack on Tudun Biri community

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called for full investigation of the military drone attack on Tudun Biri community of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State and full compensation for the victims.

    This is contained in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary,
    Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba and was made available Tuesday in Kaduna .

    Muhammad-Baba said, “ACF was shocked to learn of the horrific armed drone attack on a group of people on a Maulud procession at Tudun Biri community, Afaka Ward, near Rigasa, in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in the evening of Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.

    “The Nigerian Army has since admitted responsibility for the attack, dubbed “inadvertent” by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. VU Okoro, said to have occurred when troops were on a routine military mission.

    “While the Army authorities remain mute about casualty figures, even if tentative ,from what can be discerned from various reports, as many as 80 and possibly more/ people, mostly children and women, were killed with scores injured.”

    He said that ACF was perplexed and deeply disturbed that such an operation could be contemplated and executed in this densely populated area.

    Muhammad-Baba added, ” It is indeed trite to say that sound intelligence is the fulcrum of military operations,

    “There is a need to be more forthcoming on the details, even if to douse the feeling in many quarters that there was an initial attempt to downplay the incident except for the vigilance of some members of the public.”

    He added ACF deeply mourns and condoles all the families of the dead and pray that that God Almighty grants the dead peace.

    According to Muhammad-Baba, ACF also prays for the quick and full recovery for those injured adding that such incidents of accidental have happened in other communities in the past, with tragic consequences on civilians.

    “Efforts must thus be put in place to avert such avoidable loss of lives, property

    “Communities in the northern states have enough problems with banditry to have to again worry about becoming hapless victims of the strategies of those who should be helping to totally wipe out the scourge of banditry and terrorism,” he said.

    The scribe said that ACF has commended the Kaduna State Government for its quick response to the situation and coming to the aid of the injured.

    ” A full, through, honest and open investigation of the incident, to establish what exactly happened, who was involved and how, the number of lives lost and injured;

    “Any and all those found guilty of professional or operational incompetence must be severely disciplined, and transparently so,” he added.

    According to ACF,the investigation must be undertaken with the full participation of the people of the affected community who must not be intimidated into keeping quiet on the gory details of their losses.

    Muhammad-Baba said, “Kaduna State Government has a duty to act to protect the interest of the victims and not the Nigerian Army personnel that perpetrated the incident.

    “While full compensation must be paid for the dead in accordance with current Islamic diya value for individual lives.

    “The injured must not only be fully treated free of charge but must also be rehabilitated on full recovery, as well as fully compensated for losses of livelihoods and incomes while on the road to full recovery.

    “To restore confidence of the people, the Nigerian Army must apologise to the people of the communities affected by the incident.

    “Additionally, as a sign of good faith, the Nigerian Army should immediately undertake medical and other community rehabilitation outreach in the affected communities.”

    He said that the Chief of Defence Staff should order all the elements of the military to evolve a sound strategy to avoid the experience of mishaps such as had occurred at Tudun Biri.

    According to Muhammad-Bab,a the tragedy ought not to and should never have happened.

    He added, “No community, anywhere in the country, should ever have to suffer such horrific and tragic incidents.”

  • Afenifere, Arewa, Ohanaeze back support for Obasanjo’s image to be on new notes

    Afenifere, Arewa, Ohanaeze back support for Obasanjo’s image to be on new notes

    The Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere,  Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohanaeze Indigbo, respectively, gave their backings to the proposition of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in 2023, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to have the image of Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo on one of the the newly designed naira notes.

    Recall that Atiku via his Twitter page praised the former president for the role he played in restoring peace in Ethiopia after the two-year-long crisis.

    The Waziri of Adamawa added that the Owu politician deserves a Nobel Prize for peace for that feat in Ethiopia.

    Ethiopian government has been at loggerheads with a Secessionist movement government in the country known as Tigray People’s Liberation since November 9 2020.

    However, Obasanjo, ex-Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, and a former Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka intervened and the crisis ended on Wednesday November 2nd, 2022.

    Adamawa born politician, Atiku has been full of praises for the  achievement recorded by his former principal in intervening in the subject matter.

    His tweet reads, “I celebrate the extraordinary prowess of His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in bringing peace to Ethiopia. I am not surprised. I know my boss. He did the same thing in Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe during our time in office.

    “If for nothing else, he is most deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize, and I will nominate him when entries are open for nominations. Africa is blessed to have a statesman of such impeccable democratic credentials as Chief Obasanjo, a man whose image ought to be on the redesigned naira note, to inspire future generations of Nigerians to sacrifice for their nation and continent.”

    Reacting to Atiku’s proposition, the National Secretary-General of Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said he agreed with the former vice-president that Obasanjo deserved to have his image on the naira note for his contributions and place in country’s history.

    He said, “The naira notes that are to be redesigned already have pictures of some personalities who are part of our history but Obasanjo is well deserving of any honour that Nigeria considers necessary for him. As a matter of fact, no one has been more part of Nigeria’s history as Olusegun Obasanjo, so a place of honour should be reserved for him. When you look round Nigeria so far, no monument of much importance has been dedicated to his personality. I have looked round, no airport, no university, no stadium.”

    Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, said, “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo deserves national recognition on the Nigerian currency. He is a moral edifice who governed the country with an appreciable level of equity, fairness and ethnic sensibility. The governance structures across Nigeria are dotted by his accomplishments. Obasanjo remains the conscience of not just the nation but the entire Africa.”

    On his part, the Secretary-General, ACF, Murtala Aliyu, said Obasanjo’s roles as an international figure stood him out.

    He said, “Looking at the history of the country, whether you like him or not, you cannot dismiss him when talking about the development of this country. From the roles he played during the civil war, as military head of state and handing over power to the civilian government and then during his time as civilian president and even being an international figure. There is nothing stopping a country like Nigeria from honouring Obasanjo.”

    In the same vein, the National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said, “Former President Obasanjo did well during his time of administering this country as a military and civilian leader of the country. He started serious infrastructure development in the country as well as Operation Feed the Nation. Also during his time he was able to negotiate our foreign debt downwards.

    “Also in the aspect of economy, remember that when he came in, one barrel (of crude oil) was selling for the lowest ever experienced in the history of the country. He was able to grow the economy and handed over a robust economy to Yar’Adua. I think so far he has done well. And up till now he still behaves like a statesman in all his dealings. He deserves to be honoured. I believe that if that honour is given to him, I am in support. That will encourage others to do the right things and they will be honoured too when they leave public office.”

    Also lending his voice to the idea, the National Publicity Secretary of pan-Niger Delta Forum, Ken Robinson, said, “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo definitely deserves to have his image on one of the notes of the nation’s currency. It is very right. We will also say that elder statesmen who have consistently, from the 60s to date, promote the unity, stability and oneness of Nigeria should also be honoured in terms of being put on the naira note; (and this includes) someone like chief Edwin Clark.”

  • Former ACF Secretary-General, Col. Musa Shehu Rtd is dead

    The death has been announced of the former Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Secretary-General Colonel Musa Shehu (Rtd).

    The former ACF stalwart gave up the ghost after  a brief illness.

    His demise was announced via the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Wednesday evening in the Federal Capital territory, Abuja.

    It explained that the late Colonel Musa Shehu has been buried, according to Islamic tenets, saying that the deceased was a one-time military administrator of Plateau and Rivers states.

    The ACF statement further highlighted his good works, tremendous contributions to the developments and upkeep, contributing his quota to the growth of the body.

    The ACF also acknowledged his selfless service,  how he sacrificed his life to national and societal services and how he served  as the Acting Chairman, Political Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum.

    A condolence register, on behalf of ACF and his family, has been opened at the ACF Headquarters, No. 11A, Sokoto Road, Kaduna, while his family house, at Apo Quarters, Abuja, receives personal sympathizers.

  • Current security architecture in the country has failed – ACF

    Current security architecture in the country has failed – ACF

    The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has said the current security architecture in the country has failed.

     

    In a statement by its Secretary-General, Mallam Murtala Aliyu, ACF called on the Federal Government to revisit the security architecture with a view to protecting lives.

     

    According to the mouthpiece of the North, “the region is clearly under siege.”

     

    The Forum lamented banditry and terrorism have excised the North with major economic activities frustrated, warning it was a new ploy to block Kaduna, which is the main gateway to the North.

     

    Parts of the statement titled: ‘North is under siege’ reads: “As a guardian and custodian of the welfare and integrity of the North, the ACF is tired of crying out on the issue of security, and other challenges, in the northern part of the country.

     

    “It is curious that a train carrying almost 1000 (one thousand) passengers be exposed to the kind of situation we found, on the fateful Monday evening, without any precautionary measures taken.

     

    “It would be recalled that, some few months ago, there was a blast on the same route, and the government promise on taking a concrete measure to avert any future occurrence, is yet to materialise.

     

    “Moreover, the fact that both air and rail systems, out of Kaduna, have been compromised, it is to be expected that a sensitive government should protect the only route (Kaduna/Abuja highway).

     

    “The ACF has described as unacceptable, the frequency of such attacks on our towns and villages, highways and now train tracks and airports.

     

    “The ACF cautions on what it terms as unnecessary attacks that stretches our security and economic services in the country.

     

    “One can, easily, recall how the lives and economy of the Borno, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, and Kaduna (Birnin Gwari and Southern parts of Kaduna) were damaged, and now, taking their turn on the infrastructure.

    “The Arewa Consultative Forum calls on government to put 24-hour surveillance on the route to at least avert the ugly situations occurring.

     

    “ACF equally, prevails on the AZMAN and Air Peace airlines to have a rethink over their resolve to suspend flights to Kaduna International Airport. Such action contributes, negatively, to the resolve of the problems.”

  • Why I lost faith in Buhari’s government – Arewa Consultative Forum Spokesman

    Why I lost faith in Buhari’s government – Arewa Consultative Forum Spokesman

    The National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum, Emmanuel Waye on Wednesday explained why he lost faith in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “How can I have faith in someone who presides over this kind of thing? I had faith in him when I followed him as a reporter and he chased away some foreigners who were coming to kill us,” he said.

    “When he was coming to be President, I had faith in him. I witnessed how successful this man was in chasing enemies out of our country in 1983. But now, 300 people kidnapped in his home state.”

    Waye said this on a monitored programme on Channels Television on Wednesday night.

    While noting that the entire north isn’t secured, Waye said no northerner is happy with the spate of killings and attacks in the region.

    For the Arewa forum’s spokesman, fear has gripped him now that he no longer feels safe travelling to his country home in Taraba State following the frequent report of killings and attacks.

    “I can’t go to my home state of Taraba. The whole place is in chaos, they are killing people every day. That one is not publicised because there is no oil in Taraba.

    “All over the north, there is insecurity. I have never felt unsafe like I feel now. What can I say? You have seen what is happening to our people,” he added.

    Insecurity has been a burning issue in the country following attacks and killings ranging from banditry, terrorism, armed robbery among several other security threats.

    The National Assembly had recently passed a vote of no confidence on the service chiefs, calling on President Buhari to replace them and overhaul the nation’s security architecture.

    Meanwhile, spokesman to the president, Femi Adesina recently said only the president has powers to assess, fire and appoint service chiefs.