From Francis Nansak ,Lafia
Following the recent position taken by a section of elders who pulled out from the Arewa Consultative Forum, a social political group of elders from across the nineteen states of the north, there have been mixed reactions from critical stakeholders from Nasarawa state on the development ..
While some are of the opinion that the north is better an indivisible entity, others are of the opinion that the recent insecurity ravaging the North Central without a reaction against the menace from elders on the platform of the Arewa Consultative Forum, indicated that ACF shows no concern about the negative plights of the people from the North Central states.
In his reaction to the varying positions taken by some of the North Central elders, the Chairman of Lafia local government area of Nasarawa state, Alhaji Aliyu Aminu Maifata, has sued for peace.
Aminu Maifata, who doubles as the state ALGON chairman said the north is better united than divided along political line.
According to him, whatever that might have gone wrong that leads to the intended breakup by some of the elders from the North Central states, can be resolved on the table of dialogue. He however sued for peace amongst the elders .
In a different reaction on the matter, Chief Wilson Bako, a veteran journalist, who is currently the Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), North Central , Zone D, said as much as he is not against the position arrived at by the elders from the North Central states, but pleaded that instead of going all out at once, there should have been room for a kind of ultimatum.
He said it is not out of place to align with the decision taken by his patriarch from the North Central, given to the nonchalant attitude of the Arewa Forum over the continued killings in Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Benue and even in Plateau states.
“It is totally a sham and very disappointing that for all the dastardly acts of killers of the people from the North Central, Arewa Consultative Forum has never showed concern.
“I wouldn’t have made any comment but considering my role, I feel I am a stakeholder like others this is why i feel expressing my disappointment is vital nevertheless, let me add here that an ultimatum should have been given before the decision which was taken by the north Central elders.
“I therefore plead with our elders not to hurriedly pull-out, but ensure that certain position on the incessant security breaches are taken by the Arewa Consultative Forum. If such is not addressed they can leave,” he pleaded.
Another contributor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the carious social political groups have not lived above board in their various drives, especially in the area of politics, justice and equality, stating that if the elders were truly honest, the mess today wouldn’t have been avoided.
“But when people esteemed religion and tribe above national development, such sentiments will always brew crisis, which we are facing today, as a result of selfishness and nepotism.”
