The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed grave concern over what it described as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) being more focused on early politicking and 2027 re-election maneuvers than confronting Nigeria’s deepening security and economic crises.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the northern socio-political body accused the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of prioritizing defections and political consolidation over addressing the existential challenges plaguing the nation.
“Public policy responses to insecurity, especially in northern Nigeria, have remained ineffective. Meanwhile, government officials continue to engage in profligacy and reckless spending, far removed from the sacrifices being made by ordinary Nigerians,” the statement read.
Budget Insertions, Recklessness, and Mass Despair
The ACF specifically referenced recent revelations about insertions in the 2025 federal budget, including allocations of over N260 million each for the provision of streetlights—figures the group described as “surreal” and “crassly reckless.”
“That there has been no official denial of such budgetary excesses is a testament to the insensitivity of public officials. These anomalies are often replicated at the state level,” the forum noted.
According to ACF, such fiscal recklessness is a symptom of a "fundamental malaise in the political economy", requiring urgent policy reforms.
The group also criticized what it termed the "delusional hubris" of security officials, who make optimistic pronouncements that contradict the dire warnings from state governors and the realities on ground in various parts of the country.
“These delusions ignore the growing disillusionment, despair, and hopelessness of the populace,” ACF warned.
Eid-el-Kabir Amid Economic Hardship
In its Eid message, the ACF congratulated Muslims on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, calling the festival a powerful reminder of sacrifice, fellowship, and devotion to God.
However, the group acknowledged that the celebrations were taking place amid rising costs of living, inflation, and declining value of wages, all of which have made daily survival a herculean task for millions of Nigerians.
“That Nigerians still find the strength to celebrate is a testament to their admirable resilience, which must not be taken for granted,” the statement noted.
Call for Good Governance
The ACF concluded by urging public officials at local, state, and federal levels to embrace the principles of good governance if the country is to overcome its mounting socio-economic challenges.
