ACF To Tinubu: Stop Politics Of 2027 And End Insecurity

The apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop politics of 2027 and end the ravaging security challenges confronting Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad Baba, on Thursday, the forum condemned what it called the inaction of the Federal Government on the increasing violence in the country.

ACF alleged that while armed non state actors were allowed free rein to wreck violence on citizens, disrupt livelihoods, display populations and impose a state of anarchy, elected officials and other politically exposed stakeholders seem more concerned and obsessed with the forthcoming 2027 elections.

The statement stressed that delivering governance has become a far distant priority.

According to the statement, “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is gravely disturbed at the Federal Government’s apparent benign neglect and inaction over to the continuing tide of insecurity in Nigeria. Particularly concerning has been the rate at which armed non-state actors are allowed free reign to daily wreck violence on citizens, disrupt livelihoods, display populations and impose a state of anarchy, disillusionment and despair on communities”

“In contrast, elected officials and other politically exposed stakeholders seem more concerned and obsessed with the forthcoming 2027 elections. Delivering governance has become a far distant priority. Both scenarios are utterly as disheartening as they are frightening because they strike at the very foundation and pose definite existential threat to Nigeria”

ACF explained further, “A few examples to illustrate the situation abound: President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Independence Anniversary address to Nigeria, prosaically delivered, made only a single, fleeting mention of insecurity, as if just a grudging and irritating footnote. This is very telling.
Scores of children remain in the hands of terrorists in Borno, Kwara and other states, although those abducted in Oyo State at the same time (as those of Borno) have since been rescued and reunited with their families”

ACF stated, “Many other hapless citizens are and continue to be hoarded into the bush and held in captivity under horrendous conditions. Penultimate week, there were disturbing attacks by terror gangs on defenceless communities in Zamfara State, where five different incidents were recorded on a single day with, as sadly usual, lives lost and scores of people abducted, and property looted. Indeed, on an almost daily basis, the attacks occur at different locations in Zamfara State on daily basis, as if the State has become a killing field”

“In Plateau State sporadic armed attacks and killings by gangs punctuate daily lives.
On the Mambila Plateau and other locations in Taraba State, grim news of deaths, injuries and destruction have become common place. The tragic scenario is repeated in other states such as Benue, Niger, Katsina, Kogi and other locations”

The statement noted, “On the rise are news of abductions, kidnappings, killings and ransom demands in Chikun Local Government Area and other locations in or bordering Kaduna City metropolis. In Imo State, prospective corps members travelling to report to camp were abducted”

“The list above is incomplete but suffices to say that the incidents in reference graphically illustrate the bigger picture.

ACF added, “Given the above, two logical questions come to mind. First, how much more senseless violence, abductions and bloodshed need to be experienced to elicit appropriate action from those responsible for the protection, security, wellbeing and welfare of citizens? Second, and most critically, when will political office holders prioritise security over political election or re-election concerns?”

“Therefore, today, and for the umpteenth time, ACF calls attention to the deteriorating state of security in Arewa communities and elsewhere in Nigeria. Every new incident of insecurity should be one too many. As time is fast running out, electioneering campaigns must give way to action over insecurity.

Without equivocation ACF insists that now is the time to stop the politics and end the killings” the statement said.