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Shehu Sani, a former Senator for Kaduna State, has responded to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) regarding its recent comments on the security and economic situation in northern Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu.
The ACF, at its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, called on President Tinubu to take decisive steps to address the growing security issues, deteriorating education system, and worsening economic hardship in northern Nigeria. In a public statement, the forum expressed concern over the region’s ongoing struggles, particularly with the rising levels of violence, kidnappings, and attacks, including from bandits and terrorist groups. The ACF emphasized that northern Nigeria is facing a siege and cannot continue living under these conditions.
However, Shehu Sani acknowledged the ACF’s valid concerns about the current challenges but also questioned the group’s failure to raise similar alarms during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who handed over power to President Tinubu on May 29, 2023. Sani pointed out that while the ACF was now vocal about the hardships in the region, it had not spoken out as forcefully when a northerner was in charge, referencing the eight years of Buhari’s presidency. He wrote on social media: “ACF has spoken the truth about hardship in the present Nigeria, that is commendable; but they failed to speak the same truth when a northerner was in power.”
The ACF also highlighted the severe education crisis, particularly the alarming number of out-of-school children in the north, a situation it described as unacceptable and indicative of systemic failure. The forum called for urgent reforms to address the educational disparities, stressing that northern Nigeria bears a disproportionate share of the country’s out-of-school population.
On the economic front, the forum criticized the current administration’s policies, suggesting they had worsened the already dire conditions in the region. The ACF urged President Tinubu to review and adjust his government’s economic policies to better reflect the needs of the northern populace and alleviate the suffering of the people.
The ACF’s statement read: “The policies of the current Federal Government have continued to worsen the situation, showing little sensitivity to the precarious existential challenges faced by the Arewa people.”
Additionally, the forum called for a unified and strategic approach from northern governors in addressing these challenges, particularly in the areas of security, education, agriculture, and health services. The ACF emphasized that economic reforms must not come at the expense of the people, warning that policies that impoverish citizens could undermine the intended benefits of such reforms.
The ACF’s communique concluded with a call for the Federal Government, under President Tinubu’s leadership, to reevaluate its economic direction and ensure that it better meets the needs of the people, particularly those in northern Nigeria. The forum also appealed to northern governors to coordinate efforts to address security and socio-economic issues affecting the region.
