The Arewa Youth Vanguard (AYV) has alleged of plots by Yahaya Bello, outgoing governor of Kogi state to influence the removal of the Chief Gabriel Aduku, Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), who doubles as the acting chairman of Kogi East Elders’ Council (KEEC).
In a statement on Monday in Abuja, the group, alleged that Bello was nursing grudges with the ACF chairman for visiting the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, before the governorship election in the state.
During the visit, Aduku had appealed to the CDS to step up security in the state before the November 11, off circle election.
The statement signed by Abdulsamad Babayo and Kazayat Aminu, chairman and secretary of the AYV respectively, urged the ACF to “rise above the divisive manipulations of one man” to avoid destroying the forum which several distinguished personalities from across ethnic and religious groups in the North laboured years to build.
The group warned that, the ACF will be sounding its death knell if it plays into the hands of unscrupulous politicians.
The statement noted that removing Aduku as Chairman of ACF because “a governor’s untamed ego had been ruffled,” will create a crack that the forum may never recovered from.
“Our attention has been drawn to overt and covert measures orchestrated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the outgoing Governor of Kogi State to mortally injure the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) through the unwarranted attempt to remove Chief Arc. Gabriel Aduku, its Chairman who assumed the office only recently”, the statement reads.
“The Governor’s grouse with Chief Gabriel Aduku who we understand also doubles as the Acting Chairman, Kogi East Elders’ Council, (KEEC) was the visit to the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa before the November 11, 2023 election in Kogi State to request among others the stepping up of security in the north and particularly
“Kogi State, which was sliding into a situation of anarchy. The heightened political insecurity in Kogi State, north central Nigeria weeks before the election, is a fact well known to every Nigerian and should be of concern particularly to the Arewa Consultative Forum. “During the said visit, Chief Aduku also expressed concern about the security situation in Zamfara State and other and parts of Northern Nigeria.
“His visit therefore cannot be termed as partisan by any fair minded person.
“As Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, the entire 19 northern states are his constituency, and it is his duty to consult anybody anywhere in Nigeria to buttress the interest of the constituent
parts of Arewa. Or, is Kogi State not covered by the ACF operations?”
The statement maintained further that “Credit must infact, be given to the Aduku-led ACF for the relative security success enjoyed in Kogi State during the November 11, 2023 election in Kogi State.
“Were it not for that visit and the subsequent intervention of the military, only God knows how many persons would have been killed and maimed in Kogi State by thugs…
“In the events after the election, we have also seen how INEC in the state and their official as
well as the Election Tribunal Secretary has been subjected to several attacks and threats.
“We urged the Arewa Consultative Forum made up of eminent elders who are also witnessing the situation in Kogi State and others states of the north, not to play the ostrich at this critical comment before things completely go out of hand.
“In view of the foregoing, we call on all members of Arewa Consultative Forum to rise above the divisive manipulations of one man to tear down this house that has taken several distinguished personalities of all ethnicities in Northern Nigeria and different faiths in the region to build over the years.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum will be sounding its own death knell if it plays into the hands of unscrupulous politicians.
“Removing or attempting to remove Chief Gabriel Aduku because one governor’s untamed ego had been ruffled will create a crack in the very fabric of Arewa Consultative Forum, a crack that it may never recover from.
“We urge you as elders who we young people are looking up to for leadership and wisdom to be
temperate, logical, and dispassionate in handling this matter.
“Politicians come and go. This house must not be made to fall due to indiscretion orchestrated by an irrational megalomaniac.
“Do not embarrass the forum and indeed the entire north by playing into the hands of an inexperienced youth, sadly one of us who has squandered a golden opportunity to make his mark in life.
“That would be a blight on the integrity of an august body like the Arewa Consultative Forum. Please thread carefully.”
Arewa group accuses Bello of alleged plots to influence removal of Aduku as ACF chairman
