From Femi Mustapha and Divine Macaulay in Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a key Northern voice, has slammed politicians for starting 2027 election campaigns too soon.
The ACF insists that hunger and economic struggles in Nigeria need attention first.
ACF Chairman Mamman Mike Osuman, who spoke at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Kaduna today, urged leaders to tackle people’s needs first, rather than focusing on elections.
“Individual utterances and media exposés relating to the upcoming 2027 elections are already hitting the airwaves. This momentum, in my humble view, should take the back burner while emphasis should be earnestly placed on governance that will truly address the biting needs of our people who are daily subjected to suffering as a result of brigandage, terrorism, kidnapping, mass murders, hunger, and diseases,” he said.
He added that while genuine desires to serve are welcomed, concerted efforts that prioritize the safety and well-being of Nigerians should be uppermost in the minds of our leaders.
“Notwithstanding our political allegiance to individual politicians, groups, or ideologies, I humbly urge that we as ACF should, in practical terms, manifest and espouse ourselves as beacons of hope for our people by altruistically, openly, and courageously preaching truth to power in the manner done by the late Martin Luther King Junior, Indira Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.”
The ACF also voiced anger over recent killings in the North. “Only recently, we were rudely astounded with the sad news of the resurgence of the debilitating terror attacks and loss of lives and property in Bokkos – Plateau State, the gruesome assassination of northerners in Uromi, Edo State, and the resurgence of Boko Haram in Borno State.
“The resurgence of these monstrous bloodthirsty psychopaths are issues of grave concern to us all in ACF,” Osuman said. He noted governors’ laments on TV about harm to citizens, questioning federal claims of calm in the North East after floods hit Maiduguri too.
The group hopes its new Security Committee will soon explain these attacks. They disrupt peace, empty farms, close schools, stop trade, and hurt livelihoods amid recession, high living costs, poor healthcare, and pricey transport.
The ACF also raised concerns over a land dispute between Kogi and Enugu States. They called on Vice President Shettima, head of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), to push the commission to mark the boundary with pillars.
“The Ette Community is an integral part of the North. It is in Kogi State, populated by highly educated, skilled, and peace-loving people. The determination by Enugu State to illegally grab a portion of Ette land where rich mineral deposits abound has for years been resisted by our Ette brothers and sisters,” Osuman said.
He claimed Enugu has attacked and killed Ette people despite records showing the land belongs to Kogi’s Ette Community.
