Politics
ACF at 25: Tinubu should address North’s concerns on equity, resource allocation – Sani
As the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) marks 25 years of advocacy, regional engagement, and national influence, one of its leading chieftains, one time National Publicity Secretary, and Secretary General, CHIEF ANTHONY N.Z SANI, reflects on the journey, the challenges that still confront the North, and the Forum’s expectations from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In this exclusive interview with Senior Correspondent, ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Sani discusses the Forum’s achievements, the North’s lingering developmental gaps, and why Nigeria needs a shift in mindset more than yet another restructuring.
Excerpt:
This weekend marks 25 years of ACF. Looking back, what do you consider the Forum’s most significant contribution to Northern Nigeria’s development and cohesion?
ACF’s most enduring contribution has been its consistent promotion of unity through consultations among the North’s diverse peoples. The North is not monolithic; it encompasses multiple ethnicities, religions, and cultures. To navigate these differences, ACF’s organs, the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Executive Committee (NEC)—comprise representatives from all 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
These bodies meet regularly to explore how best to harness our diversity and address what divides us. This is why ACF has often intervened in communal conflicts, frequently achieving conciliatory outcomes.
Beyond the North, ACF has actively promoted national unity by engaging with southern socio-cultural bodies, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, and the Yoruba Unity Forum. These exchanges demonstrate our conviction that the North’s progress is tied to the nation’s cohesion. Unity is not an abstract concept for us—it is an active, deliberate process of dialogue, understanding, and shared responsibility.
Critics argue that northern socio-cultural groups have not translated their influence into tangible outcomes, given persistent insecurity, poverty, and high rates of out-of-school children. How do you respond?
Those criticisms are not entirely baseless. Indeed, as long as insecurity, poverty, and ignorance persist in the North, advocacy cannot be said to have achieved all its objectives. However, it would be wrong to dismiss ACF’s influence entirely. Advocacy shapes policy, informs governance, and inspires action. ACF’s interventions have influenced how northern governors and leaders approach development, even if results are constrained by structural realities.
We must also consider the North’s unique challenges: rapid population growth, limited resources, and uneven development across states. These structural constraints amplify the difficulty of translating policy into tangible outcomes. Advocacy alone cannot overcome these challenges, but it can provide direction, highlight priorities, and mobilize collective action. In that sense, ACF’s work has been impactful, even if progress is gradual.
ACF has actively participated in national debates on restructuring, resource control, and federal character. How significant have the Forum’s interventions been?
National debates naturally involve multiple stakeholders, political leaders, civil society, media, and citizens. Consequently, it is difficult to attribute outcomes solely to ACF. That said, our influence is visible at key moments. For instance, a former National Assembly leader once acknowledged that ACF’s principled opposition to President Obasanjo’s third-term bid contributed significantly to defeating it.
On restructuring, ACF has never opposed the concept. We have consistently argued that Nigeria has already undergone multiple rounds of restructuring, geopolitically, administratively, and economically. From three regions at independence to four in 1963, then 12 states in 1967, eventually reaching 36 states in 1996, the country has repeatedly adapted its structures.
We transitioned from parliamentary to presidential systems, and moved from state-led economic control to liberalization and privatization. Yet insecurity, corruption, weak civic values, and governance gaps persist. This indicates that structural reform alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s fundamental challenges. What the country urgently needs is a shift in mindset; a cultural and moral renaissance rooted in patriotism, accountability, and shared national values.
Even lawmakers in the National Assembly have acknowledged that ACF’s positions shaped debates on constitutional amendments, especially concerning exclusive and concurrent legislative lists.
Many Nigerians believe the North requires a new development blueprint. Does ACF have a fresh agenda for the next decade, particularly on insecurity, youth unemployment, and economic diversification?
Development is never automatic. It is the product of ceaseless hard work by both leaders and the led. Decision-making must reflect the realities of the moment, and circumstances are constantly evolving. I have no doubt that ACF, alongside the Northern States Governors’ Forum, will continue to refine strategies to meet today’s challenges.
We advocate for a pragmatic, context-driven approach that addresses insecurity, unemployment, and economic stagnation. But more than technical fixes, the North needs a change in mindset—toward productivity, accountability, civic responsibility, and the harnessing of agricultural and human potential. This is the foundation for a sustainable development agenda.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to address the Forum at its anniversary. What are the ACF’s expectations from him?
The North expects the President to engage substantively with its concerns. There is a perception among northern leaders that the region has not received equitable consideration in appointments, projects, and contract allocations, despite its significant contribution to the administration’s emergence.
Equity and fairness are central to maintaining trust in governance. We expect the President to provide clarity and reassurance that resource distribution and political representation will reflect the North’s size, needs, and strategic importance. Additionally, tangible steps to strengthen security in the North will be closely watched, because without peace, development initiatives will remain fragile.
Some analysts say the ACF has grown quieter in recent years. How does the Forum plan to reassert its relevance?
The perception of quietness is more about leadership style than influence. Some leaders are more vocal, others prefer quiet diplomacy. ACF’s mission remains unchanged.
The proliferation of northern groups is not new. Many acknowledge ACF as the umbrella organisation for the North. The only notable exception is the Middle Belt Forum, whose original agitation has been reshaped by state creation and demographic shifts.
The current leadership is determined to correct misconceptions, enhance visibility, and ensure the Forum remains central in northern and national discourse. By combining principled advocacy with strategic engagement, ACF will continue to assert its relevance.
Beyond northern issues, what national priorities is ACF championing today, particularly in areas like unity, constitutional reform, and economic stability?
The priorities of the North and those of Nigeria are intertwined. Insecurity, corruption, and poor governance transcend regional boundaries. Fighting corruption should not be left to the federal government alone; state governments must also take responsibility.
Recently, northern leaders held interactive sessions with political appointees from the region, which was a positive step. However, engagement should extend to northern lawmakers in the National Assembly, who hold representative authority. Coordinated involvement across all levels of leadership makes it easier to achieve desired outcomes.
Ultimately, ACF’s national priorities focus on creating a secure, just, accountable, and united Nigeria—because only a stable nation can offer the North and every other region the opportunity to thrive.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for ACF in the next 25 years?
My vision is for the ACF to continue serving as a moral compass for the North and a bridge-builder for Nigeria. The Forum should deepen advocacy on education, security, and socio-economic development, while mentoring a new generation of leaders and youth.
ACF must also remain a credible voice in national affairs, ensuring that dialogue, reconciliation, and policy guidance remain central to the North’s engagement with the broader federation. If the Forum continues to evolve, adapt, and maintain focus on service rather than partisanship, its next 25 years can be even more impactful than the last.
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