ACF chair’s suspension: Northern groups fume, say action attempt to silence opposition
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Several northern groups have declared support for the suspended Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Mamman Osuman, following his statement that the region will back a candidate from the North against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Osuman had on Wednesday declared that the North would not support Tinubu.
Following the statement, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ACF, Bashir Dalhatu, and the National Secretary, Murtala Aliyu, announced his suspension.
They noted that Osuman made the statement without consulting with other leaders and members of the ACF, describing the remark as reflecting his opinion.
However, some northern groups condemned the decision, describing it as unjust and politically motivated.
The groups are the Coalition of Northern Groups, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, and the Arewa Youth Consultative Council.
The Coordinator of CNG, Katsina State chapter, Abdullahi Kabir, described the suspension as an attempt to silence the North, wondering why Osuman would be punished for speaking the truth.
Kabir noted that Osuman’s statement resonated with the opinion of 90 per cent of northerners, adding that the region would resist any attempt to silence it.
“As the Coalition of Northern Group, Katsina State chapter, we do not support the suspension of Mr Osuman. We believe his statement is valid, as it resonates with the opinion of 80-90 per cent of the people of Arewa. Moreover, as a Nigerian citizen, Mr Osuman has every right to express his views.
“However, we must reiterate that the Arewa Consultative Forum does not represent the collective voice of the northern people and lacks the authority to dictate the political direction of Arewa. The ACF’s history, marked by certain failures to act in North’s best interests, has further eroded its credibility in this regard.
“If these recent actions are part of a broader attempt to silence northern voices or restrict the region’s democratic expression, we firmly oppose such efforts. The North will stand united to safeguard its rights and ensure its aspirations are upheld through inclusivity and collective decision-making,” Kabir said.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of CNG, Jamilu Charanchi, noted that the north was not happy with Tinubu’s administration and policies.
Charanchi said, “Actually, I don’t think he (Osuman) lied in what he said, because people are not happy with the system. I am telling you 80 to 90 per cent of the northern people will adopt a northern candidate without a doubt because if you take a census, they are seriously not happy with the system.
“You see, 2027 is still very far to conclude on who we are going to support. But if things keep moving the way they are moving, I doubt if northern Nigeria will support President Tinubu. Not only northern Nigeria, Nigerians in general; I doubt if they’ll support President Tinubu.”
On its part, the NYCN described Osuman’s suspension as a “big disgrace to northern extraction” and accused ACF members of “selling their voice for a peanut.”
Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the National President of NYCN, Isah Abubakar, questioned the rationale behind the suspension, insisting that Osuman’s criticism of Tinubu was a truthful reflection of the feelings of many Nigerians.
Abubakar expressed concern that the suspension was a reflection of the current state of northern Nigeria, “where everyone works for selfish interests.”
He said, “What has the chairman said that is not a truthful reflection of what many couldn’t say without fear or favour? We feel highly ashamed of the behaviour of the so-called leaders of the ACF in suspending their chairman for being bold enough to tell the truth to power at a time when everyone is afraid to do so.
“This is not the northern Nigeria that Prof. Ango Abdullahi stood for, not the northern Nigeria of late Yusuf Maitama Sule, or the northern Nigeria that late Justice Mamman Nasir stood for or late Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi sacrificed for.
“We, the northern youths, are worried about the direction of our region. We are worried that our leaders have lost touch with the reality on the ground. We are worried that our leaders are more interested in pursuing their selfish interests than in serving the people.”
The NYCN called on the ACF’s National Executive Council to reverse their decision and return Osuman to his position. He also warned that failure to reverse the suspension would lead to mobilisation to shut down the ACF headquarters in Kaduna.
Abubakar noted, “Nobody can silence any group or organisation that is ready to tell the truth to power or bring facts to challenge the happenings in our country. We will continue to stand up for what we believe is right, anytime, any day.”
“The NYCN has called on all Nigerians to stand up for the truth and to support those who are courageous enough to speak truth to power.”
Meanwhile, the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Council, Zaid Ayuba, urged the ACF to settle the crisis and represent the interest of the North well.
