From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has congratulated the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria and worldwide on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and the celebration of the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr.
The Forum however solicited support and prayers for Nigeria’s security agencies in their resolve to rid the country of criminality, insecurity and instability.
This was contained in a statement by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba.
ACF urged Nigerians to pray so that all terrorists, bandits, insurgents and other criminals on rampage with evil intentions will reflect on the futility of their fruitless aim, repent and rejoin the culture of peace and compassion.
It said the terrorists and bandits must promptly release all men, women and children citizens that they hold in captivity under miserable conditions.
The Forum also called for more rational public policies to ease the purchasing power challenges and create opportunities for economic empowerment.
ACF further called on public functionaries to shun provocative profligacy and reckless ego-massaging and self-serving spending of tax-payer funds.
The statement reads in part:
“ACF warns against the very poorly organized and chaotic distribution of “palliatives.
“ACF prefers a simple, transparent and effective community-based distribution system with adequate security coverage;
“We warn the general public against resorting to the looting of public and private storage facilities; and vehicles in transit ferrying goods across the country. Economic challenges should present no excuse for brigandage, or lawlessness, as ultimately, it is the same ordinary citizen that experiences losses in lives, limbs and property;”
ACF added that it notes that lessons must have been learnt from the Ramadan period and in particular from partaking in the month-long devotion of sacrifice, spiritual introspection, compassion, deep sober reflections on the meaning of life and death as well as of God’s benevolence and mercies, rejection of reprehensive luxuries and frivolities.
“ACF notes the many tough challenges that ordinary citizens currently face, including runaway inflation, unemployment, rapid fall in standards of living, insurgency, terrorism and banditry, etc., Most regrettably, these problems are more dire, acute or even chronic in the Northern states of Nigeria. Sadly, public policy responses, in line with the covenant between citizens and the state, to such problems remain weak and ineffective at best.
“ACF calls on citizens to remain steadfast in prayers. God Almighty has a purpose for and the answers to all tribulations that people face. Daunting as it seems, ACF steadfastly envisions a prosperous Nigeria where justice, equity and hope will prevail over despair and hopelessness, ” the statement said.
