Murtala Aliyu, secretary-general of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), says the organisation criticises President Bola Tinubu’s administration with the same vigour it applied during the government of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking on ‘News Night’, an Arise TV programme, Aliyu said
that while the forum may be political, it remains impartial and not partisan.
“I think that’s an unfair judgment to say we criticize the
government because a southerner is at the helm of affairs,” he said.
“We were huge critics of the last northern-led
administration, and our records can verify this.
“We have consistently brought attention to government
actions and pressed for improvement when necessary.
“The ACF’s official position is that selecting candidates is
the responsibility of political parties.
“We’ll assess which candidate is better for the country and
the north. We’re not partisan, but rather political, and our interest is the
entire northern state and its benefit to the whole country.
“We don’t take sides, and we’re not against any person,
including the current president.”
Aliyu’s remarks came in the wake of the reported
announcement that the ACF will support a northern candidate in the 2027 general
election.
On Wednesday, Mamman Osuman, ACF national chairman,
criticised northern leaders for not finding solutions to the challenges of the
region.
Osuma queried the roles the governors and lawmakers from the
region are playing toward improving the economic hardship inflicted on the
people by Tinubu’s policies.
He reportedly announced the support of the forum for a
northern candidate in the 2027 general election.
Subsequently, the ACF suspended Osuman for issuing an
unauthorised statement, adding that he did not consult with other leaders and
members of the forum before making the remark.
‘WE’RE ENGAGING GOVERNORS’
During the chat, the secretary general said the ACF is
engaging with governors at different levels and traditional institutions to
promote good governance.
Aliyu said that the ACF’s primary concern is ensuring
leaders prioritise grassroots needs, adding that collaboration between federal
and state governments is crucial for progress.
“First of all let me say that we engage the governors at the
governors’ forum level. We also engage the governors at the individual level,”
he said.
“We also engage the traditional rulers. And where there is
responsibility at the sub-national level, we bring their attention to that. We
are not totally blaming the national government for all the wars in the
country.
“Just like the north, any part of the country will have to
wake up at sub-national level to do the right thing and so the federal
government will complement those efforts. But such economic policies, the
micro-economic policies, are actually defined by the government at the center.
“If things are going right or wrong at the center they
should address it. At the micro-level, the state governments or the governments
at the sub-national level will handle that. And we are talking to them.
“So we are not saying we are heaping all the blame on one
person or one location. No. We are saying all people at the leadership level
should wake up to their responsibility and also be aware that the people at the
grassroots are complaining.
“So we expect to see the promises the government made. That
changes will come soon and that succor will come to the people.”
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