US Intervention in Nigeria Questionable, ACF Spokesperson Says

Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), asserts that the organization has largely succeeded in its mission over the past two decades. He stated that the ACF has stayed the course with its vision and mission, serving as a platform for dialogue and collective action for diverse northern Nigerian socio-cultural groups united by geography.

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In general terms, I think the ACF has stayed the course with regard to its vision and mission. If those constitute its objectives, then it has largely succeeded.

Baba highlighted the ACF's established credibility, visibility, and sound presence as indicators of its success, calling it "indisputably the most eminent of such groups in the country." However, he acknowledged that "there is still a lot more to be done," emphasizing that the dynamic nature of the issues confronting the region necessitates constant review and recalibration of strategies to remain relevant. He noted that while the ACF has improved its timeliness in responding to emerging issues, there is always room for further enhancement.

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That said, there is still a lot more to be done. The issues confronting the organisation are dynamic in form, content and manifestation. This naturally means that strategies must constantly be reviewed and recalibrated.

Regarding unity among the Northern elite, Baba believes the ACF has fostered it "to a large extent," preventing "total or combustible rupture." He conceded that in a democratic society with diverse elites, expecting total consensus or uniformity of opinion is unrealistic. He noted that individuals or groups may express dissent through other platforms, which is consistent with constitutional rights. Despite these differences, the ACF maintains its pre-eminent position, grounded in the enduring reality of Northern Nigeria as a shared geopolitical entity.

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Yes, to a large extent, the ACF has been able to foster unity among the Northern elite. At least, there has been no total or combustible rupture.

The ACF anniversary provided valuable lessons, most notably demonstrating that Northern elites can still convene to collectively reflect on and respond to the region's daunting problems. Baba also observed that the anniversary revealed a "depth of concern for the North and the scale of commitm."

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The most positive is that, despite challenges, Northern elites can still be brought together to collectively reflect on and respond to the daunting problems confronting the region.