From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku has denied using his position as chairman of the Forum to speak on the political situation in Kogi State.
Aduku said he spoke as the Chairman, Kogi East Elders’ Council recently with some journalists in Kaduna, during which he expressed fears on behalf of Kogi East Elders on the unfolding political violence in the State ahead of the November 11th 2023 governorship election.
Some members of the ACF were reported to have misunderstood Aduku to have spoken on behalf of the Forum, and warned him to desist from dragging ACF into Kogi politics.
In a statement; the Chairman of Kogi East Elders Council, Aduku said he was one of the founders of the ACF and therefore knew very well the aims and objectives of the Forum.
He said it would be disloyal of him to use the ACF for personal purposes when he knew the reasons behind the formation of the Forum.
He however, assured all ACF stakeholders of his undivided loyalty and irrevocable commitment to the realization of the goals and aspirations of the Forum as espoused by its founding fathers.
According to him, “my attention has been drawn to a press statement credited to some members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which reportedly “warned the new Chairman of the Forum to desist from dragging the ACF into his personal political warfare in Kogi State or risk being removed as Chairman”.
“The press statement titled “Stop using ACF for your political fights in Kogi State” was purportedly signed by one Dr. Aisha Manga and Alhaji Sadiq Bulama.”
“Upon reading through the statement under reference, my initial reaction was to ignore it in its entirety but after a deep reflection, I thought the best thing to do is to issue a rebuttal, to, at least, set the records straight. For the purpose of clarification, it is important to state very unequivocally that as an elder statesman and a founding member of the Turaki Committee headed by late President Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari, which birthed the ACF, I am not unaware of the aims and objectives of the Forum, part of which is to promote the unity, peace, progress, prosperity and overall development of northern Nigeria within the framework of a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic Nigeria.”
“I am more than determined to ensure that the ACF under my watch, achieves these lofty objectives and even more. Having said that, I wish to place it on record that it is true that I spoke extempore with a cross-section of journalists on a number of sundry national issues, especially with regards to the unfolding political situation in Kogi State, at my Kaduna residence on Saturday, June 24th 2023, while my familiarization visit to the headquarters of the ACF took place on Thursday, June 22nd, 2023.”
