...say we owe our people deep apologies for our collective failure
Concerned Northern leaders have said that they 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," they said.
The Concerned Northern leaders who met at the National Headquarters of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna on Wednesday, included among others, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, Senator Tanko Almakura, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, General Halilu Akilu( Rtd) and Senator Kabiru Gaya.
Other Prominent Northern leaders at the meeting were Ex SGF Yayale Ahmed, former Governor of Bauchi State Adamu Muazu,former Governor of Jigawa State Sule Lamido, former Kaduna Governor Ramalan Yero, ex SGF Babacir Lawal.
In his remarks, Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees and the Wazirin Dutse, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu, said the meeting was deliberately planned to be both special and serious; one that goes beyond the routine meetings of both the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF.
According to him," 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."
"This meeting is not designed to be an avenue to apportion blames or point fingers at any individual or group of individuals for the problems of the North. The truth is that we are, at our different levels, all culpable. 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 crisis 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 overriding objectives of this meeting has been made clear from our correspondences and subsequent discussions on the social media and other fora. They are two fold: One, to set in motion the process of revitalising, re-inventing and re-strategizing the Arewa Consultative Forum, to enable it play the role intended for it by the founding fathers, some 24 years ago."
"Two, 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.
As a preamble and for the sake of members coming to ACF meetings for the first time, or those that, for whatever reason, cannot recall clearly the origins of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, its mission, its administrative structure and protocols, it would have been helpful to devote part of the agenda of this meeting to do that."
"The challenges before us at this meeting are two fold: first, fixing the ACF as a special purpose vehicle without which we cannot get well organized and, secondly, exploring strategies of tackling the existential challenges facing the North and Nigeria as country.These tasks are the reason for calling the meeting and they will form its main agenda."
"Nature of the Problems: ACF
The problems of the ACF which we should try to address can be summarized as follows: Waning interest and declining participation in it by the leaders and elders of the North; including the teeming youth population.Proliferation of groups that duplicate the functions and mandate of the ACF - both an evidence as well as consequence of the declining influence of the organisation.."
"Logically, actions that need to be taken with the hope of addressing the problems highlighted above is indicated by the nature of the problems themselves. For example, we can start by asking the question: why is interest in the ACF waning among Northern elders and leaders and how come all manner of splinter groups keep springing up in the North? These are the questions we need to ask and answers we have to give."
" That way, we can gain better appreciation of the problems and any possible ways of addressing them. This applies to all the other challenges we have identified for discussion."
On security of life and property, he said 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.
"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."
"The dreaded aftermath of climate change seems to be upon us. And with it have come extreme weather events; drought, floods, environmental degradation and more. Mitigation and other measures must be taken urgently before it becomes a fully blown emergency."
"The most serious impediment to the realisation of the dreams of peace, security and development, is corruption at all levels, in and outside government offices. Corruption fosters bad governance and bad governance, as we all know, leads to a riot of evils including distortion of moral values, treasury looting, injustice, misplacement of priorities, etc.Nigeria today stands in urgent need of an all-out war against corruption."
"The effectiveness and sanctity of Traditional Institutions have been critically undermined by political pressure. As a result, their standing with their subjects, influences and authority have been eroded. Security, law and order, conflict prevention and resolution are all impaired as a result.
Addressing this problem must count as a priority for the North."
"Twice since the inception of the 4th Republic, in 2005 and 2014, both occasions when the presidency was held by southerners, the Federal Government of Nigeria pushed through so-called political reform conferences. The advertised aim of these conferences was to amend some provisions of Nigeria's 1999 constitution ostensibly to achieve faster development. In reality, however, the hidden agenda underlining these actions were almost always sinister and often designed to harm the North."
"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.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 AC should have on its agenda. They are by no means exhaustive and members will be welcome to propose additional agenda items for consideration.
May I once again thank you most sincerely for finding the time, energy resources to come to this meeting. We look forward to receiving you at subsequent meetings.
May Allah guide us today and always, amin."
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