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THE TURMOIL IN THE AREWA CONSULTATIVE FORUM (ACF): ONE CRISIS TOO MANY FOR THE NORTH

Published

4 months ago

May 11, 2026

Recent news coming out of Kaduna regarding the leadership crisis in the ACF has been unsettling. The ACF is one of Nigeria’s foremost socio-cultural organisations. It was established about two and a half decades ago with the singular objective of promoting the unity and development of the northern region. It was against this backdrop that the ACF maintains its headquarters in Kaduna, the capital of the defunct Northern Region. Being in Kaduna represents a symbolic preparedness by the ACF to uphold and promote the vision of the region’s founding fathers: the Sardauna, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Kashim Ibrahim, Aminu Kano, Joseph Tarka, etc.

Kaduna, as host of the ACF, means many things to many people: the hotbed of northern politics; the enclave of retired northern generals; and home of the faceless “Kaduna mafia,” a powerful club of Nigeria’s political wheeler-dealers in the 70s and 80s. There was also the New Nigerian newspaper house in Kaduna that shaped not only the political opinion of the North but also that of the nation at large. Its editorial position literally constituted a policy blueprint of sorts. With the demise of the prominent personalities and institutions behind the northern vision in the twilight of the 20th century, many saw the emergence of the ACF as their collective reincarnation. However, with recent developments, it could just be a misplaced hope.

Established in 2001 by eminent northerners that included General Yakubu Gowon, Sultan Maccido of Sokoto, the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Ilorin, elder statesmen Abdulrahman Okene, Sule Katagum, Sunday Awoniyi, Jerry Useni, MD Yusuf, Maitama Sule, Saraki (snr), among others, the ACF emerged as an amalgam of three prior northern sociocultural groups: the Turaki Committee under Shagari, the Northern Elders Committee led by Okene, and the Unity and Development Foundation under Sule Katagum. The trio were involved in finding solutions to the perennial crises manifesting across various parts of the region at the time, including Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Kaduna, Bauchi, etc. The ACF subsumed the three with a view to engendering greater impact.

Some of the broad objectives of the Forum include:

To coordinate efforts to build trust, unity, and stronger relationships among the peoples of Northern Nigeria and the nation at large.

To establish linkages with political and community leaders to harmonise efforts aimed at addressing the peculiar challenges facing Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole.

To liaise and cooperate with relevant local, national, and international organisations and agencies that can advance the attainment of the Forum’s objectives.

To establish and develop relationships with organisations that share similar aims, objectives, and aspirations.

To promptly coordinate efforts aimed at building bridges, fostering confidence, and strengthening relationships among the peoples of Northern Nigeria in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

To examine and deliberate on matters that can promote peaceful coexistence in Northern Nigeria in particular, and Nigeria in general.

To promote education and the socioeconomic development of the people of the North, among others.

To liaise and cooperate with relevant local, national, and international organisations and agencies that can advance the attainment of the Forum’s objectives.

In all, the ACF is out to foster unity, mutual trust, and cooperation among the peoples of Northern Nigeria and Nigeria as a whole; it collaborates to address regional and national challenges. Thus, today the ACF remains Nigeria’s most authentic pan-cultural organisation, operating far beyond the boundaries of any single ethnic formation. While many socio-cultural groups primarily represent specific ethnic interests, the ACF stands as a federation of diversity, accommodating the multiplicity of peoples, cultures, and interests across Northern Nigeria.

Its administrative structure is layered in such a way as to reflect the diversity of the region and also promote its unity. It therefore has a permanent Committee of Patrons, made up of all former Nigerian heads of state alive (Gowon, Babangida, Abdulsalami); a Board of Trustees (BOT); a National Executive Council (NEC); a General Assembly; an Executive Secretary, who serves as administrative head; state chapters; and various standing committees.

After its formation, the ACF hit the ground running. It responded to the killings of Northerners in the South-West by cultural organisations such as the OPC. The ACF also undertook peace missions to mediate in the ethno-religious and communal conflicts in Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Bauchi, and Taraba states, as well as in Kaduna State earlier on.

Outside the sphere of peace missions, the ACF was actively involved in several national dialogues. On behalf of the North, the Forum participated in the Oputa Panel, the 1999 Constitution Review Conference, and the National Political Reform Conference. Through these engagements, the ACF was able to formulate, articulate, defend, and promote the interests of the North effectively.

The Forum also mobilised the region to turn out en masse for both voter registration and national identity registration exercises. To its credit, the ACF equally played a significant role in frustrating Obasanjo’s attempt to secure a third term in office through a self-serving constitutional amendment. Ironically, the issue of tenure is alleged to be part of the issues currently tearing the organisation apart.

During the Buhari administration it engaged the government in the search for solutions to the problems of terrorism and insurgency in various parts of the North. It suggested a way out of the herders-and-farmers clash in the Middle Belt. It also engaged various governments in the fight against poverty and deprivation across the land and recently contributed to the formulation of the North’s position on the current government’s agriculture and tax policies.

Although it has not been a smooth ride, the ACF was able to command respect and visibility among a broad spectrum of Nigerians. Apart from the high calibre of personalities behind the Forum, its activities have elicited confidence among the majority of the peoples of the region. At a stage, various aspirants to the national leadership took turns seeking the “endorsement” of the organisation to enhance their prospects.

It was probably against the backdrop of the Forum’s modest achievements over the years that it marked its Silver Jubilee with pride in early 2026. It developed and presented its roadmap to Nigerians in general, which will guide its operations for the subsequent 25 years and beyond, in a commemorative book titled The ACF at 25: The Journey So Far. It also proposed building a conducive headquarters and embarking on empowerment programmes and policies for the youth and most vulnerable in the region in collaboration with the various tiers of government.

Other future plans include forging a working cooperation with other northern civil society organisations (CSOs) like the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development (ACPUD), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), CAN, JNI, the Dangote Foundation, TY Danjuma Foundation, Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation, etc., for the good of the region and the nation at large. It was in view of such laudable initiatives of the ACF that the related fundraiser garnered “roughly” billion naira (N10 billion) in pledges and cash. Dangote, with N2.5 billion; AbdulSamad of BUA, N2.5 billion; TY Danjuma, N1 billion; Yari, N1 billion; etc., led the pack.

Barely three months after the event, the ACF got entangled in a factional power struggle that pitched its BOT members against the NEC, with part of the root cause being accountability challenges — a cankerworm that has literally become “a Nigerian thing.” How could one really explain a CSO like the ACF, which has been at the forefront of advocacy for good governance, unity, peace, and accountability, finding itself in turmoil? This is really a bad omen for the region in more ways than one.

The ongoing verbal conflict and leadership crisis in the ACF have literally become a new layer in the various “wars” across the geographic North, which have afflicted sixteen (16) states out of the nineteen (19), including the FCT. Insecurity in various areas has grounded economic activities and threatened the safety of lives and property.

The development has equally deepened the distrust among parts of the North that the ACF, in its later years, has not been inclusive enough. Some accuse it of being hijacked and used to promote the narrow interests of the feudal North, or better still, the Muslim North. Yet others believe it has been under the partisan hegemony of certain political blocs. It was at the point of weathering this storm and the gathering electoral clouds of 2027 that the tussle burst into the open, thereby casting a dark shadow on its integrity and future material support.

The way forward is to appeal to the conscience of the warring parties to sheathe their swords in both their individual interests/honour, and that of the region at large. Most of them are looked upon as role models, given their pedigree in public service and business. Above all, none of the major dramatis personae namely Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, (NEC, Chair), Murtala Aliyu, Matawallen Gombe (Secretary General), Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse (BOT, Chair) and General Haliru Akilu (rtd), among others, is outside the sexagenarian and septuagenarian age brackets. They should ordinarily serve as interlocutors in national crisis situations.

The North is already in bad shape politically, socially, and economically. The region cannot afford the luxury of tearing itself apart further. Religious insurgency, armed terrorism by herdsmen, and ethno-religious crises have already done enough damage, especially against the backdrop of the fact that over three million individuals have been displaced from their homes, tens of thousands needlessly killed, and agriculture — the mainstay of the economy — decimated by fifty percent (50%), thereby creating armies of the poor and desperate in its wake.

The living patrons of the ACF — Gowon, IBB, Abdulsalami — plus the traditional rulers, should intervene to broker peace. Thereafter, the alleged issues of corruption and other misdemeanours should be looked into by the appropriate authorities for justice to be done. The abuse of public trust must be stopped.

In the final analysis, the crisis in the ACF is far bigger than a mere organisational dispute; it is a test of the North’s collective maturity, sincerity of purpose, and capacity for self-correction. An institution that was built to unite, guide, and defend the interests of the region must not be allowed to degenerate into a theatre of personal ambitions, factional supremacy, and public recrimination. If the ACF loses its moral authority, the North risks losing one of the few remaining platforms capable of mobilising consensus across ethnic, religious, and political divides.

History is watching. The younger generation is watching. Millions of ordinary northerners battling poverty, insecurity, displacement, and hopelessness are watching. At a time when the region is bleeding from terrorism, banditry, economic collapse, illiteracy, and deepening social fragmentation, its elite cannot afford the dangerous luxury of internal warfare. The North needs healing, direction, sacrifice, and visionary leadership — not another cycle of destructive power tussles.

The founding fathers of the region built institutions, not personal empires. They subordinated individual ambitions to collective survival and regional advancement. That same spirit must now prevail within the ACF.

The Forum must rise above ego, purge itself of impunity, restore internal trust, and return to the ideals upon which it was founded: unity, justice, accountability, and service to the people. It should also place higher premium on strategy than history. Anything short of that would amount to a tragic betrayal of both history and posterity.
A.G. Abubakar
agbarewa@gmail.com

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Gov AbdulRazaq Lauded Over Conferment Of Sadauna Of Ilorin Title

Published

11 hours ago

September 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been hailed for the conferment of the prestigious Sadauna of Ilorin Emirate title on him by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR.

Giving the commendation on Tuesday in a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, Alhaji Yakubu Garba Gobir, who is the Sarkin Gobir and Madawaki of the Ilorin Emirate, described the recognition and honour on Governor AbdulRazaq as well deserved, timely and apt, giving his huge contributions to the growth and development of Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State as a whole.

Gobir specifically commended the Emir of Ilorin for conferring this distinguished title in recognition of the qualities and contributions of the new Sardauna, noting that it is a solemn call for greater responsibility, leadership, loyalty and devoted service to the Emirate and its people.

He added: “The title of Sardauna occupies a position of profound significance in the history, heritage and traditions of the Ilorin Emirate. I commend His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, the Emir of Ilorin, for conferring this distinguished title in recognition of the qualities and contributions of the new Sardauna.

“The title embodies courage, leadership, loyalty and devoted service to the Emirate and its people. Your elevation is therefore not merely a mark of honour; it is also a solemn call to greater responsibility and continued service.

“As a fellow title-holder in the Ilorin Emirate, I am particularly delighted to welcome you into this distinguished circle of traditional leadership. I am confident that you will bring to the office the same qualities of leadership, dignity and unwavering commitment to public service that have distinguished your tenure and career.

“At a time when our Emirate and our State require men and women of character, wisdom and courage to advance the interests of our people, I am certain that you will make a meaningful contribution to the enduring unity, progress and development of the Ilorin Emirate.”

Gobir offered prayers for a successful, impactful and enduring tenure for the new Sadauna, adding:
“May Almighty Allah grant you wisdom, sound health and strength, and may He make your tenure as Sardauna of Ilorin a source of lasting honour to you, your family and the entire Ilorin Emirate.”

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FG Commissions KWASU ICT Centre To Enhance Graduates Employability

Published

11 hours ago

September 16, 2026

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin.

The wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned a TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative-backed ICT Experience Centre at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

It would be recalled that KWASU is one of the six tertiary institutions selected for the pilot phase of this intervention, with one institution representing each of the Nigerian six geopolitical zones.

Represented at the commissioning on Tuesday by the wife of the Vice-President, Nana Shettima, Tinubu said the project is a testament to the federal government’s commitment to advancing education, digital inclusion and enhancing graduate employability.

“The TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative ICT Experience Centre we are commissioning today represents opportunity, innovation, knowledge, and the future of young people in Kwara State and beyond.

She said: “This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which places emphasis on youth empowerment, education, innovation, and economic transformation. Mr President is committed to creating opportunities that will equip Nigerian youths with knowledge and skills required to thrive in a modern and competitive world.”

Senator Tinubu said the facility was designed as a modern technology centre equipped with ICT laboratory, interactive digital display, conference facility, and exhibition spaces, adding that it would be an environment for learning, creativity, research, and technology advancement.

According to her, the ICT centres had been commissioned at the Ekiti State University on May 28, University of Cross Rivers State on September 4, Anambra State Polytechnic on September 10, adding that the Centres at Kaduna State University and Taraba State Universities would be commissioned soon.

“The next phase of this intervention will cover 15 institutions in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe, and Zamfara states which construction is currently ongoing. This expansion demonstrates the administration’s commitment to ensuring that more Nigerian youths, irrespective of their locations, have access to digital learning opportunities,” she said.

She encouraged the students to take ownership of the facility, maximise the opportunity it provides, and use technology positively to enhance their lives, community, and the nation.

In his speech, the Executive Secretary of Tetfund, Architect Sonny Echono, said the centres are being established across selected Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, with the Kwara State University, Malete proudly hosting the facility in the North-Central Zone.

“Through practical training and digital skills acquisition, TETFund seeks to enhance graduate employability, foster innovation and position Nigeria to participate more effectively in the global
technology-driven economy,” he added.

Echono also said that the ICT Experience Centre is designed to equip students and lecturers with critical digital skills in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Robotics and Software Development.

He added: “The Centre being commissioned today is one of the foremost ICT Experience Centres being delivered across the country, and the third to be commissioned this year. The Centre is equipped with modern digital devices, Computer systems and relevant software to facilitate training, practical learning and skills development. The facility is appropriately furnished and
fully air-conditioned, with supporting power and municipal infrastructure.”

Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shaykh- Luqman Jimoh, said the new facility represents vision, belief, and an investment in the Nigerian youth to better shape the future of our
nation.

The Vice Chancellor described the ICT Experience Centre as an investment in human capital, in innovation, in entrepreneurship, and, most importantly, it is an investment in the future of Nigeria.

“This Centre will provide opportunities for our students to develop practical digital skills and engage with contemporary technologies. Importantly, it is our hub for interdisciplinary engagement.

“This ICT Experience Centre is therefore a timely, critical, and strategic infrastructure that will definitely enhance research, teaching, learning, entrepreneurship, and community service. This intervention is at the core of what this university seeks from partners and donors: synergies that add value and impact on today and the future,” he started.

KWASU Vice Chancellor also assured that the ICT Experience Centre would be put to maximum use for the benefit of students, researchers, and the University
community, adding that the “KWASU community would engage with the facilities in this Centre, we will use it. We will explore, experiment, learn, and innovate in i

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2027: Violent ;Kaduna as ADC, APC Supporters Trade Accusations….APC Calls For Police Investigation into the Vandalisation, attacks on its Office

Published

11 hours ago

September 16, 2026

Our Reporter

By Hassan Agboola

Tension is mounting in Kaduna State ahead of the 2027 general elections, following renewed exchanges between supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and groups backing the administration of Governor Uba Sani.
The latest development came on Tuesday when ADC governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru, addressed supporters in Kaduna and, according to an account of his remarks, declared that the party was prepared to respond to attacks against its members.
Ashiru was also quoted as saying that it was Governor Uba Sani, rather than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was responsible for the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

However, available public records show that El-Rufai’s detention followed proceedings before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), with the commission stating that his continued custody was based on a court-issued remand order.

The controversy over El-Rufai’s detention has nevertheless become a major political issue in Kaduna and beyond. The ADC has repeatedly criticised the handling of the former governor’s case and alleged political persecution, while other political actors have made different claims about the circumstances surrounding his detention.
Rising political temperature

Ashiru’s emergence as the ADC governorship candidate has added another dimension to the political contest in Kaduna. He defeated other aspirants at the party’s governorship primary in May 2026 and is now preparing for another governorship contest after previously representing the PDP in the 2019 and 2023 elections.
The political atmosphere has been further complicated by disagreements within the ADC and accusations from different groups over the party’s leadership and candidates.

A Southern Kaduna political group, for instance, recently questioned Ashiru’s candidacy and the choice of his running mate, allegations rejected by an ADC official.
The situation has also produced incidents involving ADC supporters and security personnel. In one recent incident, police dispersed an ADC solidarity walk in Kaduna, while the party subsequently accused opponents of attacking its members and warned that political violence could escalate ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former governor remains an important factor in the emerging political contest. El-Rufai was taken into custody in February 2026 after responding to an invitation from the ICPC. His family subsequently demanded his release, while the anti-graft agency maintained that his detention was authorised by a court.
Since then, the issue has increasingly featured in political statements by the ADC and its supporters, with the party accusing the Federal Government of political persecution and calling for the former governor’s release.
The development has created a new political fault line involving the ADC, the APC-led Kaduna State Government and supporters of the former governor.

While allegations have been exchanged over who is responsible for political violence in Kaduna, the competing narratives should not be confused with established findings. The ADC itself has recently rejected the suggestion that it has a monopoly on political violence and accused unnamed opponents of introducing thuggery into the 2027 political process.

With the 2027 election campaign yet to fully commence, the increasingly combative language from ISA Ashiru and his supporters has raised concerns about the possibility of further confrontation.
The immediate challenge before the political parties, security agencies and community leaders is therefore to ensure that political disagreements do not degenerate into violence, particularly in a state with Kaduna’s history of politically and communally sensitive conflicts.
As at the time of filling tid report the All progressive congress, APC , Kaduna state in a statement has condemned the attacks on its office and called for police investigation
Certainly. I’ll retain the substance of the report while correcting grammar, tightening the structure, and presenting it as a clean newspaper hard-news story.
Writing
APC Condemns Violent Attacks on Members, Party Offices in Kaduna
The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned alleged violent attacks on its members and the vandalisation of party offices and properties in the state.
The party also called on the police and other security agencies to investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
In a statement, the Kaduna State APC Publicity Secretary, Sani Dan-Azare, alleged that some of the party’s members and supporters had been attacked, while some party and support-group offices were vandalised.
He also alleged that vehicles belonging to some party members were damaged during the incidents.
The APC described the attacks as unacceptable and urged security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
The party called on its members and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, stressing that they should not resort to retaliation or take the law into their own hands.
The APC said it remained committed to peaceful political engagement and urged all political actors in Kaduna State to conduct their activities within the bounds of the law.
It further appealed to security agencies to strengthen security around party offices and other sensitive locations to prevent further incidents.