The Arewa Consultative Forum rose from its meeting with Northern groups and associations on Monday with a resolve to form a united front for the region ahead of the 2015 general election.
The northern stakeholders also lamented that past Nigerian Presidents of northern extraction seriously under-utilized the region assets and urged them to improve their inputs into the security and economic wellbeing of the north.
A communiqué issued at the end of the two day meeting held in Kaduna and jointly signed by the Secretary General of ACF, Col. John Ubah (rtd) and Secretary Code Group, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the need for improved unity to mitigate the potential damage of partisan politics and use of religion and ethnicity to weaken the region was imperative.
The communiqué said, “The North has a majority in population, and should use this advantage to negotiate and support candidates and programmes that will address current challenges in the region and its need for massive rehabilitation and economic reconstruction in the future.
“We have also resolved to mobilize northern leaders to engage leaders from other parts and sections of the country in discussions and activities aimed at finding solutions to common problems and long term strategies for improving the nation’s security, unity and prosperity.”
It said the North recognises the necessity of collaborating with other Nigerians including those living outside on the basis of mutual respect and knowledge that Nigeria can only overcome its current challenges if all stakeholders are genuinely involved in shaping its future.
