Some members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have asked Gabriel Aduku, their chairman, not to drag the organisation into partisan politics in Kogi, his home state.
In a statement on Tuesday, the members said the ACF is not a tool for political division, adding that the group was formed to promote the development, unity, peace and prosperity of the north as an entity.
The statement was signed by Asha Manga, a governorship candidate for Action Alliance in the just-concluded election in Nasarawa state; and Sadiq Bulama, member, Borno state/secretary to the immediate past chairman of ACF, among others,
Others were Ahamed Musa Kumo, ACF member, Gombe state; Hassan Mohammed, Bauchi state; Tanko Malami, Kebbi state; Munir Mohammed, Katsina state; Alhaji Nasiru Zakaria-Gwarzo, Kano state; Bello Wadata, Sokoto state; Usman Kabiru, Taraba state; and Umar Modibo, ACF member, Adamawa state.
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“We are members of the Arewa Consultative Forum from different states of Northern Nigeria. Most of us have been members of the ACF since the year 2000 and even prior,” the statement read.
“We wish to restate that the idea behind the formation of the ACF is, among others, to promote the development, unity, peace and prosperity of the Arewa North as an entity, while having a healthy relationship with other areas of the country.
“Therefore, ACF was never meant to be a divisive political tool in the hands of an individual or a few to use for their local political fights. This press release is necessary to quickly inform the general public that the recent position taken by the new chairman of ACF, Architect Gabriel Aduku, on the politics of his home state of Kogi should not be considered as the position of the ACF as an organisation but a personal expression of his political sentiments.
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“It is a public knowledge that Aduku who also doubles as chairman of the Kogi East Elders’ Forum has recently thrown his weight behind one of the governorship candidates in the November governorship election in Kogi state. Therefore, he cannot claim to be a disinterested party in the election. So, for him to now proceed to the ACF headquarters in Kaduna where he made scathing partisan political statements that are extremely divisive with regard to the November election could be mistaken as the collective position of the ACF which is not.
“Aduku is barely two months in office. Any leader of ACF, especially its chairman, is expected to be a father to all, irrespective of political affiliations, and not a champion of divisive politicking that can undermine the unity and peace of any part of Arewa.
“A real leader would never engage in promoting division but cohesion, especially a leader of our beloved ACF, which was founded on the honourable sociopolitical pedestal to promote peace, harmony and progress of every part of Arewa without exception.
“He either stops this kind of conduct immediately or resign from office or be removed. Any further unguarded statement like this from him will lead to massive protests against him and we’ll ensure his immediate removal from office.”
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Speaking during the weekend in Kaduna, Aduku had expressed dissatisfaction over recent political violence ahead of the Kogi governorship election, saying the election may not hold if the violence continues unaddressed.
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