The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has inaugurated four standing committees to sharpen politics in the region.
Former vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi heads the Political Committee; a former senator, Prof. Iya Abubakar chairs Education while former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako heads Agriculture and General Halliru Akilu is chairman of the Research, Strategy and Planning committee.
ACF Secretary-General, Anthony Sani, who inaugurated the committees in Kaduna, yesterday, said the aim is to institute a new political culture of electing political leaders who would be accountable to the people.
“There is the need to rewire the politics, re-engineer our sense of justice,’’ he said.
Sani added that the youths, who should be avatars of change, must be guided “to make judicious use of their democratic right and vote only credible leaders who are accountable. This would help supplant both plutocracy and kleptocracy with democracy, premised on triple foundation of justice, liberty and common decency.”
The scribe also disclsoed that the ACF had earlier formed a Think Tank, which would “harmonise all existing documents on northern challenges– into a `Northern Agenda,’” and another committee on restructuring.
He said the overall aim is to produce documents that would guide policy-makers and implementors to discharge their responsibilities in the best interest of the people.
The ACF secretary general particularly challenged the political committee, “to promote only issues which most northerners hold dear, devoid of partisanship,” so that the region could rewire its politics, ensure justice and rekindle hope in its youth.
A member of the committee, Senator Usman Umar, who responded on behalf of the members, pledged to deliver on their mandate.