Arewa Consultative Forum

Last updated
Arewa Consultative Forum
AbbreviationACF
FoundedMarch 7, 2000 (2000-03-07)
Preceded by Northern People's Congress
Headquarters Kaduna
Political position Centre-right
Website
https://arewaconsultativeforum.org/

The Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene. Arewa means "Northern" in Hausa, the primary language of the region. The forum is a successor to the Northern People's Congress, which collapsed after the coup of 1966. [1] The ACF has been associated with the Arewa People's Congress (APC), a militant group set up to protect the interests of the Hausa-Fulani people in the north. [2] However, the forum is committed to democratic processes within the federal constitution. [3]

Contents

History

Origins

The forum originated from a meeting held on 7 March 2000 in Kaduna at the initiative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido. The purpose was to establish unity of Northern leaders, working through elected officials to achieve progress in the Arewa area within the democratic framework. [4] In September 2000, former head of state General Yakubu Gowon agreed to act as chairman of the Board of Patrons of the forum. [5] The forum appointed a retired Inspector General of the Nigerian Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, as chairman. [6] Belying its common image as a champion of the interest of the Muslims Hausa and Fulani, the ACF appointed Sunday Awoniyi, a Christian Yoruba as chairman of the board of trustees in 2000, a position he held until his death in November 2007. [7]

2000 - 2009

On 8 August 2001, the ACF announced that it was forming three teams to visit the 19 states of the North and Abuja, to be led by All People's Party (APP) leader Olusola Saraki, ACF Chairman M.D. Yusufu and Lt. Gen Jeremiah Useni. The goal was to meet and discuss common goals with state governors and other leaders. The group met a cool reception in Jos, Plateau State from members of the Middle Belt Forum, who felt that they would be marginalized in a forum dominated by northerners. [6]

In August 2001, the forum recommended that former Heads of State, Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar defend themselves against allegations made against them at the Human Rights Investigations Commission, sitting in Abuja, and said the ACF was conducting an independent investigation. [8] In December 2003, the new ACF chairman, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, said the forum would try to persuade Buhari, Babangida and Vice President Atiku Abubakar to resolve their differences for the sake of greater unity of northern leaders. [9]

In March 2009, the ACF expressed concern over deteriorating liquidity in the banking industry and demanded that the Central Bank of Nigeria provide information on the size and origins of the problem. [10]

Crisis over Yar'Adua illness

In late 2009, the illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua, the first Northern President in the Nigerian Fourth Republic, and the possibility of his vice-president Goodluck Jonathan from the South assuming power became a contentious issue in the forum. On 16 December 2009, the forum issued a communiqué calling for further information on the health of the President, and saying that if a succession issue arose it should be resolved according to the constitution. [3] Later that month, the ACF called on the President, then hospitalized in Saudi Arabia, to formally release a letter that would authorize the Vice President to act in his absence. [11]

In January 2010, the former secretary of the ACF, retired colonel Umaru Ali, asked the president to resign so that his deputy could take over. [12] In February 2010, the ACF said unequivocally that Yar'Adua should transfer power to Jonathan. [13] Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, former Liaison Officer to President Shehu Shagari and a founding member, quit the ACF due to the forum's statement. [14]

Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has since returned to the ACF as a member of its board of trustees and is playing active roles in the organisation.

2010 onwards

In March 2010, the ACF rejected a statement by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who had recommended a break-up of Nigeria along religious lines, saying he was ignorant of the diverse religious make-up of the country. [15] The ACF condemned the recent killings in Plateau State, which had triggered Gaddafi's remarks, describing them as "senseless". [16] That month the ACF formed a Political Committee headed by former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Mohammed Ahmed Gusau. The committee's goal was to set the ACF agenda ahead of the 2011 elections. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Nigeria</span> Head of state and government of Nigeria

The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katsina</span> Capital city of Katsina State, Nigeria

Katsina, likely from "Tamashek" or mazza (men) with "inna" (mother) is a Local Government Area and the capital city of Katsina State, in northern Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katsina State</span> State of Nigeria

Katsina State is a state in the northwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Katsina State borders on the Republic of Niger to the north for 250 km and the States of Jigawa for 164 km and Kano to the east, Kaduna to the south for 161 km and Zamfara to the west. States. Nicknamed the "Home of Hospitality", both the state capital and the town of Daura have been described "ancient seats of Islamic culture and learning" in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baba Gana Kingibe</span> Nigerian diplomat and politician

Babagana Kingibe OV GCON is a Nigerian diplomat, politician and civil servant who has held several high ranking government offices, culminating in his appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation from 2007 to 2008. He spent over a decade in the Foreign Service cadre and has been in politics since the 1970s serving six heads of state; most recently as a member of the inner circle of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, CON was a Northern Nigerian Yoruba politician and tribal aristocrat as the Aro of Mopa in Kogi State, formerly Kabba Province. Known as little Sardauna, Awoniyi was a founder of the People's Democratic Party from which he was expelled and then reinstated, Awoniyi was also chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); a pan Northern Nigerian organisation.

Arewa or Arewaland is a Hausa word which means "The North". The term is used to refer to Northern Nigeria general. The terms Arewa and Arewacin Nijeriya are used in Hausa to refer to the historic region geopolitically located north of the River Niger.

The continued use of the term, Arewa ... has conjured up an image among educated Northerners that resonated far beyond the institutional structures Sir Ahmadu Bello created: the successor to the Bornu and Sokoto Caliphate; the vision of God's Empire in the region; the universality of its claim to suzerainty; and in a more prosaic but no less powerful sense, the concept of a polity with an emphasis on unity and sense of shared purpose in northern West Africa beyond the popular slogan--'one North, one People'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu</span>

Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu also known as MD Yusufu or MD Yusuf was a Nigerian policeman, Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force, public servant and politician. Yusufu attended Higher Education at the Institute of Administration, Zaria in 1954 and University of Oxford where he was trained as administrative officer.

Abubakar Olusola Saraki was a Nigerian politician, who was a Senator in the Nigerian Second Republic (1979–1983). He was the holder of the chieftaincy title of the Waziri of the Ilorin Emirate, and belonged to the Agoro compound in Agbaji.

Colonel Musa Sheikh Shehu was Administrator of Rivers State, Nigeria from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, and then of Plateau State until the return to democracy in May 1999.

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) is a regional socio-political group in Nigeria that promotes the interests of the people of the Middle Belt region, a loosely defined area between the Moslem and Hausa-dominated North and the predominantly Christian Igbo and Yoruba areas of the Southeast and Southwest. The Middle Belt has an extremely diverse population. There are over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages in Nigeria, many living in the Middle Belt. The forum serves as a voice for these minority groups. It is a successor to earlier movements such as the United Middle Belt Congress led by Joseph Tarka.

Alhaji Sa'idu Barda is a Nigerian politician who was elected on the National Republican Convention (NRC) platform as Governor of Katsina State, Nigeria, holding office between January 1992 and November 1993 during the Nigerian Third Republic. He remained active in politics in the Nigerian Fourth Republic.

Sani Zangon Daura was Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and later Minister of Environment, in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was dropped from Obasanjo's cabinet in a reshuffle on 30 January 2001.

Lawal Jafaru Isa is a retired Nigerian Army Brigadier General, and was the Military Administrator of Kaduna State from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. In 1996, Isa created several chiefdoms for the southern Zaria or Kaduna people in order to improve peace in Kaduna State.

Hameed Ibrahim Ali is a retired army officer and former Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as Military Governor of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998. After retirement, he became Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria.

Air Vice-Marshal Usman Mu'azu (1942–2008) was the military governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria, from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari.

Joseph K.N. Waku was elected senator for the Benue North West constituency of Benue State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He took office on 29 May 1999. After taking his seat in the senate in June 1999 he was appointed to committees on Senate Services, Works & Housing, Health, Establishment, Water Resources (chairman) and Privatization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faruk Umar Faruk</span> Emir of Daura in Nigeria

Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk or Umar Faruk Umar is the 60th Emir of the Daura Emirate. The Emirate is based in the town of Daura in Katsina State, northern Nigeria.

Alhaji Tanko Yakasai OFR is a Nigerian politician, human rights activist and former Liaison Officer to President Shehu Shagari. He is a founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inuwa Abdulkadir</span> Nigerian politician (1966–2020)

Inuwa Abdulkadir was a Nigerian lawyer and politician who was National vice-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He previously served as Federal Minister of Youth Development from 2012 to 2013, before falling out with President Goodluck Jonathan and supporting President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safinatu Buhari</span> First Lady of Nigeria (1983–1985)

Safinatu Buhari was a Nigerian teacher and First Lady of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985. She was the first wife of Muhammadu Buhari.

References

  1. ↑ Peter Palmer Ekeh (2007). History of the Urhobo people of Niger Delta. Urhobo Historical Society. p. 637. ISBN   978-077-288-X.
  2. ↑ "Arewa People's Congress (APC)". Transnational and Non-State Armed Groups. Archived from the original on 2011-01-14. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  3. 1 2 Segun Olatunji (4 Feb 2010). "Yar'Adua tears Northern leaders apart". The Punch. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  4. ↑ "History of Arewa Consultative Forum". NigerianBestForum. June 22, 2008. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  5. ↑ Udo Silas and Bature Umar in Kaduna (21 September 2000). "Gowon Accepts to Lead Arewa Forum". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  6. 1 2 Steve Nwosu and Tokunbo Adedoja (2001-09-01). "One North, Different People". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2011-03-09. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  7. ↑ Sufuyan Ojeifo (27 November 2008). "Remembering Sunday Awoniyi". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  8. ↑ Agaju Madugba and Tokunbo Adedoja (2001-08-10). "Arewa Worried over IBB, Others' Refusal to Appear". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2011-03-09. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  9. ↑ Shu'aibu Gimi (18 December 2003). "Arewa Consultative Forum to Reconcile IBB, Buhari, Atiku - Awoniyi". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  10. ↑ Omoh Gabriel & Emeka Mamah (23 March 2009). "Agenda foretold: Group plots takeover of five top banks". Vanguard Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-04-02.[ dead link ]
  11. ↑ Wale Fatade (January 31, 2010). "Panic in Yar'Adua's camp". Next. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  12. ↑ Alex Emeje (January 11, 2010). "Governors meet again over Yar'Adua". Next. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  13. ↑ Hassan Ibrahim, Bola Badmus and Kunle Oderemi. "Yar'Adua must go, Arewa insists • As Reps plan to pass law on transfer of power to Jonathan". Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  14. ↑ Abdulsalam Muhammed (6 February 2010). "Yakasai Quits Arewa Consultative Forum Over Yar'Adua". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  15. ↑ Segun Olatunji (March 18, 2010). "Gaddafi is ignorant about Nigeria - ACF". The Punch. Retrieved 2010-04-02.[ dead link ]
  16. ↑ Jide Babalola (2010-03-18). "Arewa condemns killings". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  17. ↑ Jide Babalola (2010-03-20). "2011: ACF inaugurates 64-member panel to consolidate Arewa political agenda". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.