ACF Appoints New Chairman, Removes Ex-minister, Aduku

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a Pan-Northern Socio-Political body, has dismissed Chief Gabriel Aduku, a former Minister of State for Health under former President Goodluck Jonathan, from his position as National Chairman.

Aduku was quickly replaced by Nigerian Senior Advocate, Mamman Osman.

According to reports, the former Minister was nominated in May 2023 along with other individuals following Chief Audu Ogbeh’s resignation as the forum’s Chairman in March 2023.

Aduku, an architect, was supposed to hold the position for three years, but it was short.

Answering to questions, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, the ACF’s National Publicity, stated that the former Chairman was chosen rather than elected, which supported the dismissal.

“My apologies, but no ACF chairman was elected as such. A set of persons were selected and presented but were never inaugurated.”

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“The list was reviewed by ACF leadership selection committee; it’s the final list that was now presented, approved by the joint assembly and inaugurated.”

“Whosoever that wasn’t inaugurated today simply didn’t make it to the final list as presented by the leadership selection committee,” Mohammed-Baba said.

In the meantime, the ACF convened on Tuesday, 12 December 2023, to support the recently authorised and inauguration of the Northern body’s new leadership.

Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu was named the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Mamman Osman the National Chairman of the ACF in a communiqué issued by Muhammad-Baba.

The others are Senator Fred Orti, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trade, and Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule, the Vice Chairman; Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu has not changed positions.

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According to the press release, the newly appointed ACF chairman honoured the organization’s founding members during his acceptance speech.

He, the New ACF chairman, promised to “Reinvigorate a new ACF that will be different in outlook and impact as it seeks to contribute to the national discourse on issues relevant to the Nigeria Project.”

“The meeting also received a goodwill message from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr George Akume, who also urged the ACF to provide the needed leadership for ushering a new northern Nigeria in its bid to overcome the multi-faceted social and economic problems, as well as and unity.” Mohammed-Baba continued.