By Ibrahim A. Jagaba
In furtherance of the ideals of northern Nigeria socioeconomic umbrella body, the Ogun State chapter of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on Sunday, 26 November, 2023, inaugurated unit chairmen to serve across six different units in Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government.
The ceremony, held at the Deinde Hall of Ado-Odo-Ota local government secretariat, had the incumbent council Chairman, Honourable Sheriff Adewale Musa, in attendance as Chief Host and recipient of ACF’s Good Governance Service award.
Declaring the ceremony open, with a dual prayer rendered by Ustaz Jamilu and Pastor Kalat Ayuba, the national anthem immediately followed, after which, MC of the day, The Parrot, gave a brief tale of the day’s event; adding that, ACF was founded in March, the year 2000 by northern stakeholders including Emirs, Chiefs and past Presidents and Heads of States to promote and reinforce, peace, unity and progress within the north and across Nigeria in general.
Going down memory lane, the MC informed the audience of how the ACF southwest chapter was inaugurated on the 10 September, 2022 inside the Moshood Abiola Cultural Centre, Abeokuta with Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of Ogun State and many of his cabinet members in attendance.
Comrade Babagana Gulumbo, Secretary, ACF Ogun State delivered the welcome address; he emphasized the need for increased commitment by members, toward achieving the ideals, aims and objectives of the forum.
HRH Ibrahim Hassan Hassan, the Sarkin Hausawa of Sabo in Egbaland-Abeokuta, delivered a keynote address on the importance of groups and associations in the promotion of growth and development in any society, maintaining that, groups and associations being superintended by traditional institutions naturally do well as against those that do not put the chiefdoms in their right place.
The next keynote speaker, Comrade Ishaya Haruna, harped on the import of tolerance, maintaining that conflict was an inevitable part of human existence, he added that, applying the best remedy in the event of any conflict, remained the way only panacea for peace.
Comrade Gambo Ibrahim, gave an account of wins recorded by ACF Ogun State in the past nine years of its existence, stating that, the Forum has gained acceptance and prominence amongst the Yoruba communities; thanks to numerous conflicts resolution successes recorded between Fulani herders and host communities across Ogun State, he said.
He specially commended, ACF Southwest Chairman, Alhaji Audullahi Tanko for the sacrifices leading to the success story of ACF in Ogun and southwest Nigeria.
The Chairman Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government, Honorable Sheriff Adewale Musa, led other awardees in picking ACF’s Merit Award on Good Governance; Commander, Sango Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Muhammed Sani Musa, picked the Exemplary Service award, while, National President, Riders and Owners Motorcycle Association of Nigeria (ROMAN), Alhaji Abdul Razaq Shotayo, clinched the Leadership Excellence award.
The Ado-Odo-Ota Council Boss, while, appreciating ACF’s gesture, emphasized the importance of quality policies and projects in governance, adding that, the award was a call to more duty and he was going to dedicate more to masses oriented projects in Ado-Odo-Ota LGA.
ACP Muhammed Sani Musa, in his remark, appreciated and dedicated the award to the entirety of ACF members; the Senior Police Officer, went further to admonish everybody present to always live by the rules, assuring that the area command under his watch will continue to provide security for life and property especially for law abiding citizens.
Giving a goodwill message, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Special Assistant on Inter-ethnic Affairs, Prince Hadi Sani, who is also a member of the ACF, corroborated past speakers’ submissions, averring that, the ACF from available checks, remained the only association that has stood the test of time amongst numerous other groups that have since gone into oblivion because the forum envisioned and promotes ideals, aimss and objectives that mean well for true peace, progress and development for the north and our dear country Nigeria.
Guests and dignitaries from across the country amongst whom were, the Commander, So Safe Corps, Ilogbo Command, Odunkunle Idris Oloyede; National Chairman, Arewa Gari Ya Waye, Comrade Muhammad Sofwan Sani Zarewa; Southwest Chairman of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Labbar; ACF’s Lagos and Oyo States Chairmen, Comrades Yahaya Abubakar and Muhammad Fahad Jarma, the Sarkin Hausawas of Atan Ota and Mupin, ECWA Women Fellowship, leadership of the Arewa Okada Riders Ogun State to mention a few, all attended the historic event.
It was indeed a successful show and it was brought to a close with the vote of thanks delivered by no other but the energetic Southwest Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji, Comrade Audullahi Tanko.
