From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has lifted the suspension it slammed on its national chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, over alleged unauthorised political statement that was not in line with the Forum’s partisan position.
ACF had, on November 21, announced the suspension of Osuman for comments on the 2027 presidential election, where he, on behalf of ACF, expressed support for the stance of a newly founded League of Northern Democrats (LND) that vowed to bring out Northern candidates to wrest power from President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
However, in a statement yesterday by the General Secretary of the ACF, Murtala Aliyu said: “Sequel to the recent suspension of the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Mamman Mike Osuman, by the leadership of ACF over an alleged unauthorised political statement not in consonance with the ACF’s non-partisan position, the following press statement in respect of the subject matter is hereby issued: That the ACF Unity, Peace and Reconciliation Committee under the
chairmanship of Dr Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, CFR (Ajiyan Katagum) has intervened in the recent crisis.
“It had invited some stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and that of the National Executive Council, among others, and had a family discussion on the unfortunate development.
“Consequently, the issue has been amicably resolved in the interest of the great people of Arewa and the suspension is hereby withdrawn.”
Reacting at the time of the suspension, Osuman told our Correspondent that, “I only became aware of the purported suspension half an hour ago, having just arrived from Kaduna to Abuja. I will reflect on it and speak to the alleged suspension later.”
But, in a letter of suspension read to newsmen by the Secretary General of ACF, Aliyu said: “The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee (NEC), which were made during the meeting of the NEC in Kaduna.
“In particular, Mr. Osuman was quoted as saying that the North will back a northern candidate for the presidency in 2027.The statements were made by the NEC Chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus, reflecting Mr. Osuman’s personal opinion only.
“ACF rejects Mr. Osuman’s statement in its entirety. For this reason, the leadership of the ACF’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and that of its NEC has decided to place Mr. Osuman on suspension with immediate effect. A Committee has been constituted for further investigations.”
The letter of suspension was signed by the ACF chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu and the Secretary General, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu.