ACF BoT chair: North ready to discuss proposals for change of constitution

Bashir Dalhatu, chair of the board of trustees (BoT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), says the northern part of the country is ready to discuss proposals for change of the country’s constitution.

Speaking at a meeting of the ACF’s BoT meeting on Wednesday in Kaduna state, Dalhatu said the previous attempts to amend the constitution were “designed to harm the north”.

In August, a group of elder statemen – The Patriots – visited President Bola Tinubu and canvassed for a new constitution.

The board chair said the north is not averse to or afraid of any attempt to review of the constitution.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Dalhatu said the northern part of the country is experiencing deep levels of poverty and insecurity.

“At the moment, there is nothing troubling the north more than insecurity,” he said.

“The historically quiet, peaceful and prosperous north is today ravaged by Boko Haram and other insurgencies, banditry as well as other violent crimes.

“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.”

Dalhatu said corruption is the impediment to peace in the north.