ACF: YAWN…

But the ACF has not always been this witless, clueless and weightless; at inception its founders were convincing in their stated aim and objectives.  The Forum came about as a coalition of three associations all of them based in the northern part of Nigeria and with similar objectives. Those three organizations, according to ACF apparatchiks, […]

But the ACF has not always been this witless, clueless and weightless; at inception its founders were convincing in their stated aim and objectives.  The Forum came about as a coalition of three associations all of them based in the northern part of Nigeria and with similar objectives. Those three organizations, according to ACF apparatchiks, were the Turaki Committee led by former President Shehu Shagari; the Unity Forum led by Sule Katagum and Abdul-Rahman Okene’s Northern Elders Forum.

When those three groups were collapsed into the present ACF, there was as much anticipation as there was reservation, ironically for precisely the same reasons. Those who got excited felt the caliber of the people behind the formation of the ACF was sufficient justification for their optimism; on the other hand those who were cynical felt if the same people of substance were unable to do much while they were younger and holding influential positions at the federal level, there was little chance that they could do much in their twilight.

Besides it wasn’t exactly an original conception. The ACF partly came into existence in response to a Yoruba Socio-cultural group called the Afenifere, and its Ndigbo equivalent, the Ohanaeze. But by and by, the ACF took shape and its structure was formed. The ACF structure consists of three organs that have always governed its operations: The Board of Patrons headed by former head of state General Yakubu Gowon from inception to date; the Board of Trustees headed by Liman chiroma (late) and the National Executive Council headed by former Inspector General of Police M.D. Yusuf.

The NEC was the engine room of the organization and its pioneer secretary was Hamid Ali, a retired Colonel. For the first four years the ACF struggled bravely to establish its authority as the pre-eminent defender of northern interest; the extent to which it succeeded is debatable, but having to confront a powerful figure like the then President Obasanjo was in itself a daunting challenge. The vice president at the time, Atiku Abubakar acted in some way as a gadfly to the ACF; the two—Atiku and ACF—somehow became embroiled in a cold war of supremacy on who spoke for the North. Assisted by Obasanjo from whom he enjoined unqualified support in their first tenure (1999-2003), Atiku and the federal government all but succeeded in neutralizing the influence of the ACF; as part of the strategy somebody engineered the formation of a rival organization—the Northern Union—led by former Senate Leader Dr Olusola Saraki while along the way pecuniary considerations distracted some of the members from the lofty ideals the group set for itself at inception.

With its credibility badly shaken, the ACF, in 2003 did a rethink and decided it was time for the pioneer leadership to step down in the hope that a new leadership could reinvigorate the organization. Consequently the late inimitable Chief Sunday Awoniyi was elected as the new head of the ACF NEC; with another venerable gentleman, Magaji Dambatta as Chair of the BoT while General Gowon was retained as Chair of the Board of Patrons.

It turned out to be the best decision that that the ACF had ever made. The tenure of Awoniyi marked what is indisputably the golden period of the ACF.  Approaching 80 years of age, Chief Awoniyi somehow found the energy to visit all the 19 northern states and extracted firm commitment of cooperation from the governors. His intellectual ability and proven integrity immediately started reflecting on the renewed ACF; the Forum’s criticism of the Obasanjo regime became punchier and more meaningful; whenever ACF met, the federal government awaited the outcome with baited breadth. Awoniyi would not be bought so the government was at a lost how to deal with him, as a result ACF became stronger and membership grew exponentially. The peak of Awoniyi’s tenure was leading the process that ended the protracted Tiv-Jikun feud that had claimed so many lives.

Then Awoniyi died and General I.B.M. Haruna became the new NEC Chair. After the gritty and powerful leadership that Awoniyi had bequeathed to the ACF, the tenure of his successor is best left unearthed. It was mediocrity and self-centeredness personified, a miserable era for all those that had held out any kind of hope in the ACF. Post-Awoniyi ACF was flippant, and many people wondered how the great Chief Awoniyi would have handled the Yar’adua health crisis. It is not uncommon for the personality of a single individual to influence the course of history; if he had been alive, Awoniyi’s could have had significant impact on how the north reacted to that crisis. And it is unlikely to be for the worse.

All of which brings us to the sad present. The ACF now has new leadership: Aliko Mohammed, Dan Iyan Misau, is now the new NEC Chair with retired Col. Musa Shehu as Secretary while Gen. Jeremiah Useini is the new Chair of BoT.

Once more it would appear there is some reason to be hopeful, if not optimistic. Aliko Mohammed is a seasoned technocrat and in service as in retirement he has managed to stay well above the murky waters of the Times. His name has never been associated with the countless political misadventures his peers have engaged themselves in; whereas some of his peers are jeered even in their own hometown, he is said to enjoy a harmonious relationship with the high and low in his native Misau in Bauchi state.

Taking all this into account, how do we view the upcoming Peace and Unity Conference that the ACF is organizing? It is vital that the North as whole pay more than cursory interest in the event; we have all been, directly or indirectly, the victims of the absence of peace in the north. With the situation showing no sign of abetting, the conference couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time.

The vital question is, would it be meaningful, or would it end up as just another relevance-seeking jamboree? Today we celebrate Chief Sunday Awoniyi, and we shall continue to do so; with equal passion, we shall also continue to discredit those who had a chance to make a difference, but failed to do so. Alhaji Aliko Mohammed and General J. Useini, you are next, please.