Northern leaders, under the umbrella of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have condemned the purported removal of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Forum, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, by a faction of the group, describing the sack as reckless, illegal, and ill-advised.
Statement from ACF Elders
According to a statement signed by several ACF elders who are also members of the BoT, including Ambassador Hassan Adamu, retired General Muhammad Magoro, retired General A.B. Mamman, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, IGP (rtd) M.D. Abubakar, former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Ibrahim Shekarau, Mukhtar R. Yero, and Saminu Turaki, the group unequivocally condemned the actions of a tiny, disgruntled minority within the Forum.
The statement read: “We unequivocally condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the reckless, illegal and ill-advised actions of a tiny, disgruntled minority within the Forum who, in flagrant violation of the ACF Constitution, rules, regulations, norms and established traditions, convened an illegitimate meeting on 6th May 2026 and issued a press release containing unfounded and malicious allegations against the respected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse.”
Authority of the National Executive Council
The statement further explained that the National Executive Council of ACF lacks the authority to make any legal pronouncement on the leadership of the Board of Trustees. “It has no powers under our Constitution to appoint, suspend or remove any member of the Board of Trustees, let alone its Chairman,” the elders added.
The elders described the actions of this small group as a dangerous act of indiscipline, gross insubordination, and a blatant attempt to undermine the very foundation of the Forum.
Actions of Former Secretary General
It is particularly regrettable that the Chairman of the National Executive Committee, Mike Mamman Osman, SAN, permitted the illegal actions of the erstwhile Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu, whose tenure expired on 10th March 2026. The statement stressed that all actions taken by the said former Secretary General after that date are null, void, and of no effect. He has since been placed under investigation for his conduct while in office.
