Africa-Press – Nigeria. As the country approaches another general election, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged people across the region to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure peaceful and credible polls in 2027.
Mamman Mike Osuman, Chairman of ACF, made the appeal while addressing the forum’s 79th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday.
He said, “We must educate and enlighten our people on their civic responsibilities and the necessity of abiding by the laws of our fatherland.”
He noted that the election season had given rise to complex groupings whose focus, he said, was not on out-of-school children, hunger, poverty, frequent attacks by kidnappers, banditry or terrorism, but rather on strategies for repositioning ahead of the 2027 elections.
Osuman said there was ample evidence that many current elected and appointed officials remained disconnected from ACF’s aspirations and programmes. He acknowledged, however, that some had been supportive and had provided financial assistance to the forum.
He advised, “Our individual and collective approach must be sincere, genuine, and purposeful—with the downtrodden people of our region and our country as our central focus. We must disabuse our minds of persuasions that seek only to promote momentary, selfish, and primordial interests.”
Explaining the structure of the organisation, Osuman said the National Working Committee meets regularly to address issues before presenting them to the NEC, which then supports implementation through its established committees. He added that the NEC is also responsible for policy formulation and programme implementation.
The chairman observed that the region continues to face serious challenges, including natural disasters, tragic loss of life and the harsh realities of daily living. He said terrorism, armed banditry, insurgency and kidnapping were on the rise, citing incidents in Kwara, southern Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and other areas. The consequences, he said, had been devastating, with families and communities violently uprooted and displaced.
“These displacements have resulted in overcrowded camps and informal settlements with limited access to basic services, increasing the risks of malnutrition and mortality among survivors. Repeated attacks and the climate of fear have disrupted education, leading to school closures across affected areas. Rural economies have been severely strained, travel has become unsafe, and access to farming, schooling, and healthcare has been discouraged,” he lamented.
He added, “Insecurity has deepened to such an extent that external military assistance has been required.”
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