The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, stated that the North ranks high in poverty, illiteracy, health, and security of life and property and is still a work in progress.
This came as the forum dissociated itself from the planned nationwide protest against bad governance, saying it was ill-timed and counterproductive.
The ACF’s chairman, Mamman Osuman, stated as much yesterday when he visited with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani: “The ACF National President stated that the Forum is not a party to the planned national protest and will not support it as it is ill-timed and counterproductive.”
He said, “This visit, is to promote a deeper and wider conversation around the current crises of insecurity and poverty ravaging Northern Nigeria.
“Today, however, despite our valiant efforts, the achievement of peace, unity and progress in the North remains essentially a work in progress.
All the indices that track human progress, most of all poverty, illiteracy, health, and security of life and property, tend to place the North at the deep end of the trough. A great deal of work awaits all Northerners.
It is therefore incumbent on our leaders and citizens alike to change the narrative without further delay.
“We are planning to organize two important events in the coming months. On the 19th of October, 2024, General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s most respected former Head of State and one of the few surviving founders of the ACF, will be 90 years old. Secondly, in March 2025, the ACF will itself clock 25 years since its establishment.
