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Tag: Arewa

  • Why North rejected resource control – Arewa, confab delegates

    The pan northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern delegates at the ongoing National Conference said the current renewed agitation for resource control will increase imbalance in the development of the country, leading to inequality.
    Reacting to the current debate, the ACF through its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, said it was against the abolition of the on/ off shore dichotomy, but was however opposed to the principle of derivation that will compensate for the environmental pollution suffered by oil producing communities.
    Ibrahim said “Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) disagrees with the abolition of the on/ off shore dichotomy, where proceeds from the off shore activities that are not due to efforts of the states or any host communities, nor cause any degradation of the environment, are factored into calculation for derivation with consequences to the economic well being of the non oil producing states.
    “ACF is however not opposed to principle of derivation that will compensate for the environmental degradation due to any exploration, or to reward efforts. ACF therefore calls for the review of the current situation to allow for the proceeds from off shore activities to be shared to all the states.”
    On their part, the Northern Delegates under the auspices of the Northern Delegates Forum said the argument that resource control has made non oil producing states not to be viable is neither here nor there, pointing out that apart from Lagos State, no state of the federation pays salaries without federal allocations.
    In a statement signed by their Spokesman, Anthony Sani and made available to The Nation in Kaduna, the northern delegates argued that the fact that the economy of Nigeria is not diversified today is not due to lack of resource control but due to cheap oil money which drives away productive money.

     

  • Arewa, Northern governors condole with Sambo over brother’s death

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Monday commiserated with Vice President Namadi Sambo over the death of his younger brother, Capt. Sabo Sambo.

    In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, the ACF described the death of Sambo’s brother, who died in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday, as shocking.

    “It was with grief and shock that ACF learnt of the death of Capt. Sabo Sambo, the younger brother of the Vice President, Namadi Sambo.

    “From God we come and to Him we shall all return,’’ the statement read, adding that death was the ultimate end for all mortals, and noted that life is equally transient.

    The statement quoted the ACF as saying that, “the good deeds and service to humanity done by each person shall continue to live after him.”

    “We are aware that Capt. Sambo has been flying for over 30 years; from the defunct Nigeria Airways, Presidential Fleet to Nigeria Police Aircraft, all on service to his fatherland.

    “Capt. Sambo would be remembered for his diligence, commitment to service and most importantly, his humility.

    “We commiserate with the family of the Vice President, and pray to Almighty Allah to grant the departed soul eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.

    “We also commiserate with the bereaved family and pray Allah to give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

    Also, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) consoled the Vice President over his brother’s death.

    In a condolence message, the NSGF Chairman, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger, on Monday said: “We feel and share in your grief. Take heart.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Capt. Sambo, who was the immediate younger brother to the vice president, died on Sunday on the Bill Clinton drive, Airport Road, Abuja, in a car accident.

    The Forum said the best tribute the vice president could pay to the memory of the departed was for him to continue to touch more lives positively.

     

  • Subject confab outcome to referendum – Arewa, others

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) suggested on Thursday that the outcome of the National Conference should be subjected to a referendum.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that Nigerians should be allowed to determine the decisions taken at the conference.

    “It is our hope that at the end of the conference the recommendation would be subjected to a referendum, so that at the end of the day Nigerians can say that we have participated in the decision that may culminate into a new constitution,” Ibrahim said.

    On his part, Alhaji Bala Yunusa, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, said the decisions taken should be subjected to legislation.

    “In our constitution there are two ways to enforce a law, it is either through legislation of the National Assembly or through a referendum.

    “It should not be through a white paper where the executive can just pass it and say it has become an administrative law.

    “These are issues governing the whole country, the best way to do it is through amendment of the constitution.

    “So we have to follow the democratic procedure by going to the National Assembly to amend the constitution,” he added.

    However, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, a veteran politician, said the conference was unpopular as the delegates were not representing Nigerians, but “one man.”

    Musa said “there must be a truly national conference” in which delegates would be elected by all Nigerians to take decisions on their behalf.

     

     

  • Abuja blast a national calamity – Arewa

    The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Tuesday described Monday’s bomb attack in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja as a national calamity.

    A statement issued in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, condemned the action, saying it was inhuman and senseless.

    The Forum called on the insurgents and other aggrieved groups to explore the path of dialogue to ensure peace in the country, adding “the killing of innocent people and destruction of their property is not a solution to any perceived injustice or grievance.”

    “In the last six years, Nigeria has experienced many cases of security challenges like bomb blast, insurgency and gunmen attacks, communal and religious clashes that have culminated into huge loss of lives and destruction of property worth millions of Naira.

    “The present insecurity in the country especially in the Northern region has placed our people in a state of hopelessness and helplessness and crippled the socioeconomic activities of the region.

    “The measures put in place by various levels of government including a state emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to combat the activities of insurgents and terrorists have not yielded the desired result.

    “This is grave and worrisome considering the frequency of attacks which has become a daily affair with colossal loss of lives and property.

    “ACF hereby condemns in strong term the senseless and inhuman act of terrorism being perpetrated by the insurgents and their collaborators against the Nigerian people especially the bomb blast at Nyanya, FCT, where innocent people in pursuit of their legitimate means of livelihood were killed and injured.

    “ACF calls on the Federal Government to decisively use all legitimate means and security apparatus at its disposal to tackle the insecurity that is gradually destroying our corporate existence as a nation.

    “The need for synergy between the security agencies and the community for intelligence gathering and utilisation is necessary in combating this menace,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Forum as saying in the statement.

     

  • Arewa Youth demand empowerment package

    To check insurgency in the north of the country, members of the Arewa Youth Forum  (AYF) have called on the Federal Government to create a Northern Youth Empowerment Program similar to the one created for Niger Delta militants.

    Members of the group led by its National President Gambo Gujungu made this call when they met with the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Abuja.

    The AYF President said the empowerment programme for Northern youths should be patterned according to the one given to militants in the Niger Delta region and urged the federal government to work hard to ensure better result of other empowerment programs.

    Gambo Gujungu advised the federal government to tackle the problems of “insecurity, total marginalization, underdevelopment and decay in infrastructure within the region.”

    According to him, the AYF visited the finance minister to discuss issues of national interests that relates to development, peace and unity that have divided the country.

    In his words, “the forum recently presented a position paper on developmental issues affecting Northern Nigeria to the presidency. Issues highlighted centered on insecurity, total marginalization, underdevelopment, federal government infrastructure decay, youth empowerment issues.”

    He then noted that the group’s call to the federal government was “to provide the youth of Northern Nigeria with empowerment packages as their counterparts, the Niger Delta militants, with the view to addressing the issue of insecurity and insurgency.”

    Responding, the minister of finance said the federal government was working hard to address the twin issue of insecurity and unemployment.

    She said an inter-ministerial committee had been set up to look at special intervention programs to address the problems of the region.

    These programmes she said would focus on how to create jobs through agriculture and education.

     

  • Nigeria’s problems caused by collapse of national ideals – Arewa

    The pan northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said the problem of Nigeria lies in the collapse of national ideals, moral values and the collapse in social contract and not in the structure of the nation.

    The Forum also said that it would have been better for delegates to the conference to be elected rather than being nominated, adding that since the ideal of election has been jettisoned, those it regards as the “first eleven Nigerians” should be allowed to represent the vast majority of the citizens.

    The Spokesman of the Forum, Anthony Sani, told The Nation that the position taken by the Yorubas to push for some form of ethnic autonomy reminiscent of a confederal arrangement during the national conference will not help in solving the nation’s teething problems.

    He said, “We have read the reports that the Yorubas will push for some form of ethnic autonomy during the upcoming National Conference that is reminiscent of confederal arrangement.

    “As we have repeatedly made clear, ACF did not canvass for the conference. This is because of the forum’s belief that the problems of Nigeria lie in the collapse of national ideals, fall in moral values, collapse in social contract and fall in sense of what is right and what is wrong rather than in the structure of the country, in the constitution and in the form of government nor in the hype in ethnic nationalism that promotes cleavages of the country.

    “But since some sections of the country believe that coming together in the conference is capable of furthering the cause of a united Nigeria when issues of national importance bordering on real issues of real concern to real Nigerians are discussed, we have said so be it.

    “Surely, if such issues are raised in the conference, delegates from the North will not lack what to say. It must be noted that there is no system of true federalism that is accepted universally.

    “That is why no two federal systems are clones of one another. This is because a federal system has a lot to do with the circumstance of its emergence. For examples, the 13 American Colonies came together to form United States of America while in Nigeria, the national government formed the federating units.

    “What most federal systems do is to balance the national power with appropriate level of state power in manner that the centre is strong enough to keep the country as one, but not too strong as to push the country towards a unitary system.

    “Towards this end, devolution of power can still be achieved by appropriate tampering with the exclusive and concurrent list for performance.”

     

  • Arewa elects new officers

    Arewa elects new officers

    The Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF) has elected new officers.

    In the election, which was attended by at least five delegates from each of the 30 branches in the Northern Zone, five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, three members of the Body of Benchers, among others were elected.

    They include   M. A. Abubakar, chairman; G. S. Pwul (SAN), vice – chairman; H. S. Garun-Gabas, secretary; T.T. Hyundu, asst. secretary; Safiya I. Balarabe, treasurer, Iorcugh Igbayue, Legal adviser; Lukas A. Haruna, financial secretary; Gyang Zi, welfare secretary; and Junaidu Abubakar, publicity secretary.

    Others are Francis D. Kozah, Auditor; ex-fficios Omar Musa, Odege Siaka Odege, Stephen Abar; and A. M. Idris.           .

    Chief Magistrate Garba Ringim administered the oath of office on the new exco.

    In his acceptance speech, Abubakar said: “Let me pledge that henceforth, opinions will matter. We will put in place a system in which major decisions will be arrived at after robust debates in which all who have opinions will be heard.

    “This Executive Committee intends to embark on the following programmes: Rapprochement with our brothers and sisters in the forum who may have felt left out in the events leading to this election; establish a standing secretariat to be located in Kaduna, which will form the engine –room of the forum and serve as the much needed link between the members and the Executive Committee and between the forum and other fora in the NBA; embark on a much-needed campaign of sensitisation of our leaders both professional and political on the need to support and grow the forum for the benefit of the profession and for Arewa generally.

    “May I solicit the support of all members of this forum towards achieving the foregoing immediate programmes of the committee and many others to be unveiled.”

    He added: “This address will not be complete without saluting the historic efforts, of reviving the ALF, by our indefatigable erstwhile steering committee headed by Hajiya Fatimah Kwaku and assisted by J. S. Okutepa (SAN), Chief John Ochoga, Steven Abar, Rueben James, Musa Ibrahim Jam Jam and Linda Bala.”

     

     

     

  • Arewa rues ‘lack of international flights’ from north

    The pan northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on Friday alleged that northerners are being marginalized in appointments and employment in parastatals under the federal ministry of Aviation.

    The group faulted the lack of international flights from the region.

    The Forum at the end of its joint National Working Committee (NWC), the National Executive Council (NEC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Kaduna asked the relevant authorities in the aviation industry to address the issue without further delay.

    In a communiqué signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani and made available to The Nation in Kaduna, ACF also insisted on the conduct of the 2015 general elections in one day, saying it will cut cost and eliminate the bandwagon effect associated with other elections.

    The Forum also frowned at the protracted nature of the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and appealed to the warring factions to come to compromise in the interest of the students and the nation.

    The communiqué reads in part: “the meetings still considered the factors militating against the good conduct of free and fair elections over the years and still insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission should conduct all five elections on the same day.

    “It is the considered opinion of ACF that such arrangement will cut cost of elections and reduce problems of logistics and do away with band wagon effects that are associated with staggered elections. If other African countries can do it, Nigeria can also do so.

    “The meetings commended the National Assembly for its decision to thoroughly investigate the claims and counter claims which have trailed the recent killings of suspected members of Boko Haram in the Legislative quarters in Abuja.

    “This has become very necessary and timely, considering the overriding need to know the truth which can inform retribution or otherwise and inspire confidence and trust on the authority, on the nation’s intelligence community and on the security agents for public good.

    “ACF has noted with great concern the festering strike by ASUU, which has inflicted untold hardship on the students and their parents and on the nation’s education. It was against this backdrop that the meetings called on the feuding parties to make haste and bring about the necessary sacrifices needed to end the strike and allow students resume lectures without further delay.

    “The parties in the dispute must note that in matter of public intelligence, there is time to stay the course, there is time for compromise and there is time to let go.

    “The deliberations considered the marginalization of the northern part of the country in air travels. There are also evidences that fewer northerners are getting jobs and deployment in parastatals of Ministry of Aviation and in the management of airports in the country. As things stand now, there are no international flights in the north except Abuja.

    “ACF, therefore, urged relevant authorities and Ministry of Aviation to also improve the aviation industry in the north. This is good for the interest of the growth and development of the national economy.”

     

  • Shut Arewa Textile to reopen soon

    After an eight-year closure, this ArewaTextiles Limited, Kaduna may reopen early next year, barring any technical hitch.

    The management, it was learnt, is working towards reopening the firm in the next six months after defraying all bank debts and paying outstanding workers’ salaries estimated to be N1billion.

    The company is said to have opened a refinancing deal with the Bank of Industry (BoI), for higher garment production on its return.

    Officials of the National Union of Textiles Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) held a rally in Kaduna, where they told workers that their outstanding salaries and allowances would be paid before the firm reopens.

    Workers, who defied a heavy rain to attend the rally, held at the plant’s main entrance, jubilated at the news of its planned return.

    The Union’s Deputy Secretary-General, Chimezie Sylvester, who disclosed this during his addressed to workers, said the daughter of the sole owner of the company, Dr. Nemile Achimugu, has opened discussions with the Union Bank Plc and labour on the plans to reopen the factory.

    According to him, Achimugu called a meeting of all departmental managers, supervisors, senior staff union executives, and junior staff union executives to discuss the plans to revive the company.

    The workers, he said, were notified that the management has signed an agreement with the receiver (Union Bank) to recover its assets and all security documents with the bank within six months.

    He said the management and the Union Bank officials would enter the premises within two weeks to take inventory of what remains of the company, adding that within the next six months, the company would settle its debts to the bank and begin payment of workers entitlements.

    Sylvester said the company intended to go into massive garment production, going by the direction of negotiations with BOI.

    “We are hopeful that with the on-going efforts and commitment of Achimugu, workers’ entitlements would be settled as soon as possible and Arewa Textiles brought back to operation,” he said, assuring that the union remained committed and willing to cooperate with the Board of Directors of Arewa Textiles with a view to ensuring the settlement of the outstanding benefits of the workers and reviving the company.

    On January 5, 2005, the management of Arewa Textiles Plc shut down the company.

    Before the closure, Sylvester noted that workers’ salaries, allowances, gratuities and other entitlements of workers amounting to N1 billion were not paid,  adding that the Union dues and other levies running into several millions, which management deducted from workers salaries, were also not remitted to the union.

    ”Prior to the closure, management on Monday, April 14, 2003 unilaterally terminated the appointment of about 342 workers while 481 were summarily dismissed for protesting the non-payment of backlog of salaries owed them by the company.

    ”The union promptly condemned and frowned at this action of management and subsequently sent a protest to the management. In order to ensure a peaceful resolution of the impasse, the Union held several meetings with the Management of Arewa Textiles Plc all to no avail.

    “Due to the relentless pressure, management eventually called for a meeting of stakeholders (Stakeholders Forum of Arewa Textiles Plc.) on Monday, July 26, 2004, comprising members of the Board of directors, including the late Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief P. S. Aisha, management staff, senior staff association and workers’ representatives to resolve the issue”.

    ”Several meetings of management, union, Labour Ministry and security agencies were held and agreements reached and signed were either turned down or not implemented by Arewa Textiles.”

  • Arewa to CAN: Promote peaceful co-existence among Nigerians

    The pan northern socio-political organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has taken a swipe at the the Christian Association of Nigeria, saying the organization owe it a responsibility to encourage peaceful and harmonious co-existence in the country.

    In a statement made available to The Nation on Friday in Kaduna, the ACF said CAN should be working hard to overcome what divide the people and not to promote cleavages along ethnic and religious lines.

    Reacting to CAN statement on its advice to the Federal Government to reconsider its position on the 2016 national census, the ACF said its view on the issue was misunderstood by the Christian body.

    The statement reads “the attention of the ACF has been drawn to reports credited to CAN in which the religious body expressed its displeasure over the ACF’s call on the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to allow the 2016 census to be conducted under the watch of Chief Festus Odimegwu.

    “And so, given the apparent misunderstanding of ACF’s positions on this issue of national importance, it has become necessary to issue this press release in order to dispel any misconceptions arising from ACF communiqué.

    “The new NPC chairman, since assumption of duty, has repeatedly said the census exercises from 1816 to 2006 have not been done with the best of intentions as a result of undue manipulations to favour some sections of the country. More so that data on religion and ethnicity were not included. Consequently, the NPC would go as far as efforts could go to make corrections in 2016.

    “Many people and groups reacted by saying such statements by the chairman would make many Nigerians conclude that the outcome of 2016 census would be work from the answers, thereby generating avoidable controversies that will be unhelpful. What is more, religion and ethnicity, being emotive issues, will compel adherents not to accept results that do not favour them.

    “In addition, since census figures are for planning and management of socio-economic development, and not for promotion of religion and ethnicity, the inclusion of such data will be superfluous, besides generating avoidable controversies.”