Follow Us on Google
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dismissed reports suggesting a leadership crisis within the organisation, insisting that its National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) remain fully functional and operational in line with the forum’s constitution.
The ACF leadership crisis stems from conflicting interpretations of constitutional tenure limits and a subsequent power struggle over financial administration, specifically tied to the forum’s endowment fund and 25th anniversary activities.
The internal factionalisation has drawn criticisms from other northern groups, who feel the divisions distract from the region’s socio-economic and security challenges.
However, in a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the forum said it was compelled to respond to what it described as persistent enquiries and misleading reports about its internal affairs.
“The affairs of the Forum remain on course and fully in line with the aims and objectives as enunciated in the ACF’s Constitution,” the statement said.
It added that both its NEC and NWC had continued to operate without interruption, while supporting efforts by some northern elders to resolve what it described as lingering extra-constitutional aberrations in the management processes of the Forum.
The forum also rejected what it called false reports and publications concerning its affairs.
“NEC and NWC disavow recent false news and misleading publications about affairs of the Forum,” it stated, adding that the Forum remains resolute and ever strongly focused on the vision and mission of ACF’s founding fathers.
It urged members and the public not to be misled by what it termed spurious news and publications.
The statement specifically dismissed an advertorial published in three national newspapers, which purported to contain resolutions reached at an online meeting of the ACF state chairmen and secretaries.
According to the forum, no such platform exists. It noted that its constitution clearly establishes only five operational organs comprising the Patrons, General Assembly, Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee and National Working Committee.
It further argued that under Section 9(1) of its constitution, state chapter chairmen and secretaries are members of the NEC and cannot operate outside the NEC.
It disclosed that at its National Working Committee meeting held in Kaduna on June 19, members reaffirmed their confidence in Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman and Mallam Murtala Aliyu as chairman and secretary-general, respectively, of both the NEC and NWC.
Other News
The meeting also resolved to sanction members found to be acting contrary to the forum’s constitution.
It said the NWC reaffirmed its confidence in Mr. Osuman and Mallam Aliyu and vowed to refer any errant member to the Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee for investigation and possible sanctions.
The forum described the reported online meeting as false, fabricated, mischievous and obviously concocted by shadowy elements who do not wish the ACF well.
It claimed that several state chapters had since distanced themselves from the purported meeting and its advertised resolutions, adding that the advertorial was sponsored by an estate management firm with no known links to the ACF.
The statement also likened the alleged meeting to what it described as an earlier purported Board of Trustees meeting in which individuals were listed as attendees despite allegedly having no knowledge of the gathering.
On the controversy surrounding the inauguration of an Endowment Fund Management Committee, the ACF said only the NEC has the constitutional authority to establish such committees.
It maintained that NEC was in the process of setting up a committee to advise on or manage the endowment fund.
The forum further stated that Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, who reportedly inaugurated the committee, remained suspended.
According to the statement, Dalhatu has been suspended since May 6, pending investigations into allegations of wrongdoing, impropriety and overreach during his tenure as chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The ACF said his suspension remains in force because he had refused, failed or neglected to appear before the Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee to clear himself of the allegations.
It warned individuals serving on the purported Endowment Fund Management Committee that the body was unrecognised and certainly ultra vires and futile, adding that some of those named were not bona-fide members of the forum under its constitution.
The forum also expressed concern that its funds remained lodged in a bank at a paltry rate of eight percent, despite proposals from financial institutions offering returns of up to 20 percent.
It warned financial institutions and individuals against unauthorised dealings with the ACF’s funds, saying the forum would take all necessary steps to seek remedies against such actions.
Reaffirming its commitment, the ACF said it remained dedicated to articulating and defending the interests of the people of Northern Nigeria within the nation’s laws.
