ACF To Buhari: Don"t Negotiate With Boko Haram

By Agaju Madugba

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the Federal Government to shelve any plans to dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgent group arguing that such efforts may be an exercise in futility.

Nigerians soldiers with Boko Haram flag

According to a former Inspector General of Police who is also the ACF Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, previous attempts at a peaceful resolution of the prolonged Boko Haram insurgency did not yield the desired results.

Coomasie who spoke at a press conference in Kaduna yesterday also chided Igbo elders and leaders for allegedly failing to condemn those promoting the revival of Biafra.

He said that government should sustain its current onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgents noting that, “so far, so good, things are going on as they should and very soon, we who’ll finish with Boko Haram.

“If you recall, the Federal Government in the past proposed a dialogue and even set up a mediation group but the so called dialogue collapsed.

“There had also been other issues including a ceasefire agreement which the Boko Haram and even the Federal Government described as false.

“So, with the way things are happening, is it now we should talk of dialogue and who is asking for dialogue in the first place?

“During the last one year, the ACF has made concerted efforts aimed at bringing to the notice of both the northern states and the Federal Government, the killings and other atrocities being perpetrated by the Boko Haram and their collaborators.

“We had put pressure on both the Federal Government and the northern states governments, urging them to save the lives of our people by acting fast and decisively to stop the insurgency.”

The ACF leadership lashed out at elders from the south east over reported renewed agitations for the creation of the Biafra Republic.

According to Coomasie, “the ACF has observed with serious concern the continued agitation by some Ndigbo elements for the creation of Biafra Republic out of the present Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is sad and unfortunate that 45 years after the civil war when Nigerians are now united in a democratic system of governance, some elements are busy drumming the idea of another war and secession, through Radio Biafra and MASSOB activities.

“The agitators for this unholy division are in their safe abode outside Nigeria and are openly campaigning in foreign countries.

“The moist painful aspect of this agitation by some young Ndigbo elements I’d the deaf ear and silence from the elders who experienced the bitter pill of the secession attempt.

“The ACF expects Ndigbo leaders to come out and condemn such agitations just as they and others condemned and berated the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east region.

“We cannot afford to transit from one insurgency into another and the ACF therefore calls upon the Ndigbo leaders and groups to come out, not only to condemn but to publicly dissociate themselves from this act of treason against the state by some disgruntled Ndigbo elements.”

 

ACF To Buhari: Don"t Negotiate With Boko Haram

North not 80% of Nigerian population, Afenifere tells ACF

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has faulted the claim by Arewa Consultative Forum on the reports of the 2014 national conference.

Nigeria

The group particularly asked the ACF to “stop peddling the funny claim of the North being 80 per cent of Nigeria in land mass and with a higher population” because the “fallacies have been laid to rest.”

A statement on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said, “All the over 600 resolutions taken at the conference were by consensus as delegates never had to vote once. The only issues that remained contentious were the percentages of increase in derivation, the minerals development fund and the disaster reliefs fund.

“The point of disagreement was when some Arewa delegates insisted that they would only agree to the five per cent increase in derivation and same for mineral resources development all over Nigeria on the condition that the five per cent earmarked for disaster intervention fund should be only for areas where Boko Haram are operating, while other delegates frowned on making Boko Haram a derivation item.

“The compromise struck was to refer the items to the president for a technical committee harmonisation.”

Afenifere added that the allegation “laced with the usual feudal arrogance, outright misinformation, atavistic obfuscation and delusory myopia” would have been ignored “were it not that falsehood repeated time and again may start to wear the garb of truth.”

It said, “Let us from the outset make it clear that the unitary order, which the House of Arewa, has used to limit the flourishing of the component units of Nigeria for decades, has now entered a terminal crisis with shrinking receipt from oil and like a one-legged man dancing “skelewu”, will sure hit the ground even if he has all the stage to himself.

“And when the fall comes, ACF and co-travellers would wish we had done the needful. They should therefore perish the thought that Afenifere is cajoling them to allow a restructured Nigeria.”

Afenifere said it was amused that ACF was still peddling the claim of controlling 80 per cent of Nigeria because it had thought the fallacies have been laid to rest in 2014 after some of their delegates had taunted their co-conferees from the South “with map of Nigeria drawn at the back of their babanriga showing the North as 80 per cent of Nigeria.”

Odumakin recalled that during the national confab, delegates were unanimous that the figures of all the censuses held in Nigeria till date had not been credible due to hegemonic interferences with what should have just been an exercise to provide scientific data to aid planning and development.

It was also agreed that the natural boundaries of the North and the South are Rivers  Niger and Benue “but the British drew artificial boundaries to favour the North and punish the South for agitating for independence.”

Afenifere also queried why the North would be using the issue of bigger land mass, which was allegedly cornered to its advantage, to harvest revenue from the central purse instead of cultivating it.

The delegates, it said, also resolved that if the higher population claim were true, “why would a man say his neighbours should not send their children to the best schools because they have to cater for his own children who are more than theirs?”

North not 80% of Nigerian population, Afenifere tells ACF

ACF Accuses Jonathan Of Plans To Frustrate Buhari

KADUNA—The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has accused outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan of deliberate plot to hinder the smooth take off of the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari.

General Buhari

Citing the current energy crisis engulfing the nation due to scarcity of petroleum products nationwide following alleged Federal Government’s indebtedness to various groups, the ACF lamented that, “Nigerians do not deserve such a parting gift from Jonathan after he has earned himself a global applause for statesmanship.”

The ACF pronouncement is contained in a statement in Kaduna yesterday after the monthly meeting of its national executive council.

The statement signed by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, noted that the nationwide fuel scarcity had virtually crippled the economy and put untold hardship on Nigerians.

The statement read, “this has seriously affected power generation and distribution, transportation system, telecommunications, banking, water supply and other sectors of the economy.

“In fact, the situation is terrible, worrisome and capable of shutting down the country. Certainly, few days to the handover of government to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the ACF  and indeed Nigerians are worried and disturbed at the rate the Nigerian state is being grounded by actions and inactions of the outgoing Jonathan’s administration.

“All these unwarranted hardships including the persistent insecurity and many others which the outgoing regime will bequeath to Gen. Buhari appear to be deliberate and calculated to hinder the smooth take off of the new administration.

“After President Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari, he has at every occasion pledged to cooperate with Buhari to ensure a smooth transition.

“However, ACF has observed with dismay the actions and inactions of the Jonathan’s administration in the last two months which have failed to make the transition smooth as promised. President Jonathan’s recent knack for sacking aides, chief executives, making frivolous appointments, awarding contracts and revoking or even relocating some projects at this zero hour of his administration, is morally wrong and a negation of his earlier statesman posture.

“The recent revelation by the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala that despite the huge amount ($61.7 billion about N12.3 trillion) earned from oil and other sources in the four years of President Jonathan, the Federal Government has been borrowing toPAY salaries and allowances thereby incurring heavy debt for the incoming administration.

 

ACF Accuses Jonathan Of Plans To Frustrate Buhari

Rochas in Kaduna, woos ACF for presidential bid

Imo State Governor and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday met members of the Arewa Consultative Forum as part of his campaign to clinch the APC ticket for the 2015 presidency.

Okorocha

Okorocha told the Northern body that if elected president of Nigeria in 2015, he was capable of bringing the current insurgency in the North-East in the country to an end.

The presidential aspirant noted that prominent individuals were reaping from the war against terrorism, saying this was the reason the Boko Haram insurgents had continued their menace unabated.

He said he had what it takes to stop the menace of the outlawed sect, which had continued to ravage the country.

The governor added that like he did in Imo State, where he had stopped kidnapping, the menace of Boko Haram would become a thing of the past under his administration as president of Nigeria, come 2015.

“I can stop Boko Haram if I become President of Nigeria, come 2015,” he said.

Okorocha, who said he was at the ACF to intimate the organisation with his bid and solicit the support of the elders of the region, believed that defeating Boko Haram was not difficult.

He said he was in the race to unite the nation and salvage the country from its current sorry state.

Apart from bringing insurgency to a standstill, the Imo chief executive officer, who claimed to be a veteran in the presidential race, having aspired as presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP where he came second to the late Umaru Yar’Adua, also said he would create more employment in the country and improve the education sector as well. . He said, “I have a burning fire to change Nigeria for good. My intention to become president of the country is for the benefit of the masses and not for personal gain because God has blessed me; to salvage the country; for the unity of the country; to make Nigeria better.

“My main purpose of coming is to reaffirm my relationship with the North. I’m a Northerner by birth, I was born and brought up here. North gave me education and trained me. So I consider myself as part and parcel of ACF. So I feel I’m at home to talk to my parents.

“To relate and make my intention known to the North that I will be running for the post of President in the country come 2015. Though, ACF is apolitical, but I want you to see me as a son. I need your support. I believe with the support and prayers of the elders, I can go far.

“For those that don’t know Imo State. We have transformed Imo State. We gave free education from primary to university and other

“So, I see myself as a bridge but without Arewa, there is no Okorocha.”

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Rochas in Kaduna, woos ACF for presidential bid

ACF condemns attack on NASS members

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned attack on members of the National Assembly (NASS) describing it as most unfortunate and misuse of powers by the security operatives.

Reacting to the attack, the forum through its National Publicity Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim, ACF said such attack is capable of causing break down of law and order if not addressed to forestall a repeat.

According to the statement, “The attack by the Nigeria Police on members of the National Assembly on Thursday which led to the closure of the NASS complex by the Senate President Sen. David Mark was most unfortunate and an abuse of state power.

“The police’s constitutional role of protecting the people, maintaining law and order was not properly applied in handing the National Assembly drama of Thursday..

“The nation cannot afford the misuse of state power by our security agencies at this material time as it could lead to breakdown of law and order especially as we approach the 2015 elections.”

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ACF condemns attack on NASS members

Power will shift to the North in 2015 - ACF

By Isiaka Oyibo, Katsina

A former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and leader of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie, says there is the possibility of power shifting to the North in 2015.

The ACF, which Coomassie leads, has been in the fore front of the agitation for power shift to the North..

Fielding question from newsmen in Katsina, Coomassie said the agitation for power shift to the North by 2015 was realizable, stressing that once there was credible election where people are allowed to freely choose who they want, power will shift from the South.

He said the fact that the North appears to be speaking with different voices notwithstanding; power may go to the North.

“The North has always appeared to be in disarray but it is not. When the time comes, things will sort themselves out and the correct thing will be done. Democracy allows people to express their views but, eventually, the majority will carry the day”, the ACF boss said.

“If people want real change, they can always put their heads together. If we present a credible candidate and there is honest, credible and transparent election, the North can still win.”

“But the important thing is that people should be allowed to cast their votes and let their votes count. There should be no changing results to favour another candidate, let officials allow voting to take place as is done in civilized countries. If it is done, then we know the results will be credible and acceptable”.

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Power will shift to the North in 2015 - ACF

Jonathan has failed North - ACF

The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, rose from an emergency meeting with non-governmental organisations   on Sunday and declared that President Goodluck Jonathan had failed the region in terms of security.

Army, Jonathan fighting Boko Haram

It said there was a deliberate attempt to emasculate the north economically, reduce its numerical strength and divide its people along religious and   political lines.

The ACF, through its     Chairman, Ibrahim Coomassie, stated that the general belief was that the Jonathan administration never liked the North.

It alleged   that while the region was being battered, the Jonathan government never made any serious move to end it.

According to the forum, since the emergence of   Boko Haram , the North had witnessed a speedy descent into anarchy.

It said,”As we gather here today to discuss, let us not lose sight of the fact that there is a Federal Government whose responsibility it is to protect   lives and safeguard the property of every citizen of this country.

“What we are witnessing today is a complete reversal of that role. The government of the day under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan has woefully failed to protect us.

“While the North is being battered, the people in government have not made serious efforts to end it. For the first time in the history of this great nation, our President is being openly condemned for his ineptitude, immaturity and ineffectiveness.

“Since the advent of the Boko Haram uprising in 2009, the region has witnessed a speedy descent into anarchy. The insurgency and insecurity situation we are faced with in the North is such that we have never imagined would happen to Arewa that we all grew up to know, to love and to cherish.

“The Arewa that was bequeathed to us by our forefathers is no longer the same. Today, the entire Northern region is under siege. The North is being attacked from all angles and from all fields.

“Now, the general belief is that this government and its leadership do not like us. The current policies and the government attitude towards the insurgency leave us with no better conclusion than to assume that there is a deliberate plan or attempt to emasculate the north economically, to reduce us numerically, disunite us religiously and to divide us politically.

“This is the grim situation we are faced with. As leaders of Arewa, it is incumbent upon us to rise up to the occasion. The entire citizenry of the North looks up to us with so much hope.

“We must at this point bury our individual differences, come together and critically examine the situation before us. We must come out and speak with one united voice. We cannot afford to be seen to be divided.”

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Jonathan has failed North - ACF

2015: ACF warns Pro-Jonathan campaigners

The Arewa Consultative Forum on Friday once again warned supporters and campaigners of President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 Presidency to tarry awhile, saying that any rally to garner support for the president at this moment of grief in the country was ill-conceived and of great security threat.

The Forum said it was a flagrant abuse of the Electoral Act for any political rally to take place in favour of President Jonathan even when the Independent National Electoral Commission was yet to lift ban on electioneering campaign.

In apparent reference to the planned political rallies for Jonathan by the group, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, slated to hold in the six geo-political zones of the country, the ACF argued that the organisers should be more concerned about the security challenges and the Ebola virus in Nigeria rather than celebrating the president when other parts of the country were grieving.

Though the ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, on Friday in Kaduna said it appreciated the zeal and enthusiasm of members of TAN to showcase the achievements of President Jonathan, it faulted the organisers of the rallies, in comparison with the plight of Nigerians living under threat of Boko Haram insurgent.

It noted that activities of the insurgents had led to the killing of security personnel and innocent souls, destruction of property and displacements of 400,000 persons in the North East, a situation now worsened by the current health challenges of Ebola virus.

The Forum noted that the current situation does not call for celebrations and political rallies in support of any cause or any political office holder.

It said, “Moreover, INEC is yet to lift the ban on political rallies as per the provisions of our Constitution and the electoral Act.”

The ACF, therefore, called on TAN members to be human, sensitive and have a rethink on their planned solidarity rally in the six geopolitical zones and shift it to a more appropriate time, especially, “the ones for Kano, Minna and Gombe for the sake of Nigerians under siege of insurgency and other challenges.”

It said, “In the past two weeks or so, there have been series of advertisements in both electronic and print media on a planned political rally in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria by an association known as Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria to garner support for Mr. President Goodluck Jonathan against 2015 elections. The political solidarity rally is to kick start on the 16th August, 2015.

“The members of TAN are certainly Nigerians entitled to their fundamental rights of association and free movement in any part of Nigeria as guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution.”

2015: ACF warns Pro-Jonathan campaigners

ACF urges committee to collaborate with Borno State govt to rescue abducted girls

The north Thursday welcomed the offer of assistance by some foreign countries particularly the United States, Britain, France and China to locate and rescue the school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State by members of the Boko Haram sect.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the pan northern socio-political, Arewa Consultative Forum, Mohammed Ibrahim, the region said even though government efforts at rescuing the girls is coming belatedly, it is better late than never.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government has constituted a Presidential Committee on a fact finding mission to verify the number of Chibok school girls abducted, trace their whereabouts and identify the lapses of government agencies in this saga.

“Although the Federal Government has acted belatedly, it is a good development considering the general outrage and protests by women organisations, civil societies and the general public on its earlier inaction posture.

“ACF had earlier called on the government to make concerted effort towards the safe rescue and release of the abducted girls from their captors.

“ACF therefore urges the committee to swing into action, collaborate with Borno State government and security agencies to immediately rescue the kidnapped female students. ACF appreciates the assistance being offered to Nigeria by the United States, Britain, China and other countries to rescue the abducted girls.

“ACF equally shares the grief, plight and concern of the parents, relations and all Nigerians in this traumatic experience and pray for the safe release of these innocent girls.”

ACF urges committee to collaborate with Borno State govt to rescue abducted girls