Arewa Elders Forum Worry About North’s Crises of Extinction

 Arewa Elders-Photo credit: Leadership newspaper

A reliable source who attended a recent closed door meeting of the Arewa Elders Forum told SaharaReporters that all the “elders” at the meeting agreed that Northern Nigeria is facing “crises of insurgency and extinction.” The Arewa Elders Forum is led by Maitama Sule, an octogenarian and once Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations (who holds the traditional title of Dan Masanin Kano).
Others at the crucial meeting included Mamman Nasir (a retired justice), Senator John Wash Pam, Paul Unongo (a top political figure from Nigeria’s Middle Belt), and such retired military generals as Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, Lawrence Onoja, Abdurahaman Danbazau, and Al-Amin Daggash. The meeting was also attended by such notable Northern political personalities as Jibril Aminu (a senator and retired university administrator), Ango Abdullahi, Umaru Dikko, Shehu Malami, Baba Gana Kingibe, Aliyu Modibbo, Adamu Ciroma, Mustapha Akanbi, and Ibrahim Shekarau.
Our source said the meeting focused on the increasing insecurity ravaging the North, and the expanding rift between Christians and Muslims in the northern part of the country.
“It was a tough meeting,” said the source, adding that the participants felt that the crises besetting the North were signs that the vast region was “losing direction and cohesion in Nigerian politics.”
He said Mr. Maitama Sule, the leader of the forum, stated bluntly that with the way things were going, the North was certainly losing out. Mr. Sule reportedly told the meeting that religious and social ecumenism was the North’s strength but that the North seemed to be flirting with being monolithic.
The source added that Jubril Aminu, Mamman Nasir and Senator Pam stated that the task of re-uniting the North politically was not likely to yield much success. Rather, they suggested that efforts be focused on finding ways to ensure that Northerners realize what they are losing and embrace the imperative of living in peace.
Members of the speakers expressed concern that the north was “almost facing extinction as an entity.” He disclosed that the members spoke forthrightly about the fact that Maiduguri has been razed down, and that Bauchi, Yobe and Adamawa States, which are part of Maiduguri axis, are in danger of succumbing to chaos as well. Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Benue States also have their shares of violence. In addition, Kano, Sokoto, Kaduna and Niger have been devastated by a series of terrorist attacks.
There was a consensus within the forum that, with all the rising violence, the North’s economy and socio-political strength were under serious threat. “The meeting agreed that the North is now more vulnerable than ever – worsened by the poverty and illiteracy in the region.”
Our source said the participants at the meeting were divided into several committees, primarily security, peace, economic development and youth. The committees were empowered to find solutions to the crises affecting the North.
Our source said the rising poverty index in the North as well as the region’s myriad social vices have raised alarm as well as fears of widespread breakdown of law and order. “There is the real possibility of a serious revolt and uprising by the talakawa (peasants) against the elite in the North,” said our source, adding that, the Arewa Forum realized that, unless urgent action was taken, “revolution is indeed imminent.”