Northern Youths Blast ACF BoT Over Suspension of Chairman
The Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) has expressed deep disappointment over the decision by the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to suspend its National Executive Council Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN.
In a press release issued on November 24, 2024, the Assembly criticized the ACF BOT for allegedly bowing to political pressures following Mr. Osuman’s public criticism of the Tinubu administration’s “anti-people policies.” The youth group described the suspension as undemocratic and an affront to the masses of Northern Nigeria, who bear the brunt of the administration’s policies.
“The decision to suspend Mr. Osuman is a clear indication that the ACF leadership prioritizes pleasing the Tinubu government over addressing the dire challenges faced by Northerners due to its policies,” the group stated.
The Assembly accused the ACF BOT of undermining its own principles by silencing a leader who had spoken out against the hardships imposed on Nigerians, particularly in the North. They labeled the BOT’s action as “desperate, unscientific, and devoid of protocol,” questioning the rationale behind the Trustees’ interference in the forum’s executive affairs.
The Northern Youth Assembly further highlighted the ACF’s failure to deliver tangible contributions to the region since its inception 24 years ago, stating, “Apart from organizing conferences and showcasing affluence, the ACF has achieved little to advance Northern development.”
The group issued a seven-day ultimatum to the BOT to reinstate Mr. Osuman with full powers and honors. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in mass mobilization of Northern youths to occupy the ACF Secretariat in Kaduna in defense of the region’s interests.
In their statement, the Assembly also criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, alleging that its economic policies, driven by external influences like the IMF and World Bank, have plunged millions of Nigerians into unprecedented hardship. They hinted at the possibility of supporting a Northern candidate for the 2027 presidential election if corrective measures are not taken.
The press release was signed by representatives from the 19 Northern states and the FCT, reflecting widespread youth discontent across the region.
The Assembly concluded, “It is time for the voices of Northern youths to be heard. Nigerians deserve better leadership, and the people of the North will no longer be silenced or sidelined.”
The Press Release was endorsed by:
- Usman Alhaji Musa – Yobe State
- Sulaiman Idris Yusuf – Kano State
- Aminu shehu – Jigawa State
- Nura Abba Ali – Katsina State
- Abdurrashid Sa’ad – Zamfara State
- Muhammadu Bello – Kebbi State
- Yakubu Abubakar – Sokoto State
- Mu’ azu Tadama PhD – Kaduna State
- Isma’il Alhassan Musa – Bauchi State
- Maryam Adam – Gombe State
11.Muktar Abdul – Taraba State
12.Abdulhamid Musa – Adamawa State
- Alh. Mai Tijjani – Borno State
- Sabi’u Musa – Plateau State
- Aliyu Dogara – Nassarawa State
- Grace O. Ojochogwu – Kogi State
- Mohammed kuta Muhammad – Kwara State
- Shehu Idris – Niger State
- Engr. Zakaria M. Zakaria – FCT
- Oko Sunday – Benue State
- Comrade Adikwu Omaji Joshua,
National Publicity Secretary,
Abdulhafiz Garba, PhD
National Secretary
Ali Mohammed Idris, PhD
President,
